Q2 - Power, Law, and Civic Life: When Algorithms Govern Your Life with Veena Dubal, JD, PhD

AI, Wages, and the Algorithm That Knows How Desperate You Are Paths of Curiosity in an AI WorldWhat if the app deciding how much to pay you already knows how little you're willing to accept?For millions of gig workers, that's not a hypothetical. That is your typical day. In this episode, we continue our AI, Power, Law, and Civic Life miniseries with Dr. Veena Dubal, Professor of Law and Anthropology at UC Irvine, whose research on algorithmic labor control has been cited by the California Supreme Court and covered by the New York Times, NPR, and CNN. TechCrunch called her an unlikely star in the tech world — and once you hear what she's uncovered, you'll understand why.Together, we explore:How gig companies legally stripped millions of workers of basic protections by classifying them as independent contractorsWhat algorithmic wage discrimination actually means — and why two drivers doing the same ride can be paid completely different amountsThe desperation score: what it is, why workers believe it exists, and why there's nothing stopping companies from using oneHow gamification and intentional psychological design keep workers accepting bad offersWhy the "supply and demand" defense doesn't hold up — and what these platforms are really doingWhat it will take for algorithmic wage discrimination to finally become illegalDr. Dubal also shares her journey from public interest law to becoming one of the most recognized critics of Silicon Valley's labor practices, and why writing — real, effortful writing — may be the most important skill you can build in an AI-shaped world.This conversation will change how you look at every app that pays people on the other side.Because in a world where algorithms set your wages behind a black box, the real question isn't just whether the system is fair — it's whether anyone is allowed to ask.Paths of Curiosity in an AI World Exploring tomorrow’s careers through the lens of AI Follow us: @pathsofcuriosityWebsite: https://pathsofcuriosity.com/Youtube: youtube.com/@PathsofCuriosityX: https://x.com/PathsCuriosityLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paths-of-curiosity-in-an-ai-world-2117803aa/