Recasting the Master-Slave Dialectic: Data Work, AI, and New Forms of Subjugation and Emancipation

Description

This short paper explores G.W.F. Hegel’s account of the master–slave dialectic in an effort to
characterize data work outsourced by Big Tech corporations to the Global South as a modern
form of slavery. The argument is structured around two pillars. First, I offer an interpretation of
Hegel’s influential text, arguing that the emergence and eventual emancipation of servile self-
consciousness fundamentally depend on coerced labor—specifically, the labor of giving form
to a technical object for the satisfaction of others. I also examine recent critiques of the master–
slave dialectic, particularly its role in supporting Hegel’s justification of European racism and
colonialism. Second, I extend these insights by examining contemporary cases of generative AI
design. Drawing on secondary literature, I assess the extent to which the essential features of
the master–slave dialectic resonate with the experiences of data workers who help shape safe
digital applications for users. My interest lies in opening pathways for challenging Hegel’s
account of emancipation, particularly by suggesting that the oppressed may pursue it through
trajectories not predicated on total obedience to the will of others.

Period	27 Jun 2025
Event title	Slavery Past, Present & Future: 9th Global Meeting
Event type	Conference
Location	Amsterdam, NetherlandsShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International