CAREER: Improving Work Quality and Worker Safety in AI-Supported Crowdwork

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $550,885 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

Crowdsourcing is a technique for breaking large problems that require human input into bite-sized tasks that can be divided among a number of "crowd workers" who complete the tasks for pay. Crowdsourcing is used in many areas: artificial intelligence (AI) tasks require large-scale datasets with human-created labels; research studies with people benefit from crowd workers both as study participants and as data analysts; and many companies use crowd work for their own business needs. As with many other areas of work and life, the rapid growth of AI is also poised to transform crowdsourcing: workers may be able to collaborate with AI-based tools to work more accurately and efficiently. However, risks also arise from workers misusing AI-based systems, errors in the AI systems themselves, and privacy risks that AI systems might pose to workers. This project aims to address these risks, and in the process advance understanding of human-AI collaboration, create safer AI-based systems, and develop more ethical crowdwork systems. The project team will also develop educational modules that bring more disciplinary perspectives to cybersecurity education and that integrate cybersecurity concepts into courses across disciplines. These modules, along with the theories, datasets, and tools developed in the research, will be widely shared to support educational, research, and practical impacts. This project addresses emerging security and ethical challenges in AI-integrated crowdsourcing

Key facts

NSF award ID
2442883
Awardee
University of Tulsa (OK)
SAM.gov UEI
P23YK1EKPS51
PI
Weiping Pei
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
SaTC: Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace, CAREER-Faculty Erly Career Dev, EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES
Estimated total
$550,885
Funds obligated
$438,871
Transaction type
Continuing Grant
Period
10/01/2025 → 09/30/2030