The Hidden Algorithms of Gig Work: Who Really Profits from Uber and the Platform Economy?

The Hidden Algorithms of Gig Work: Who Really Profits from Uber and the Platform Economy?

June 30, 2026 · 35 min · Episode 143

About this episode

This episode explores the hidden algorithms of gig work and the implications for worker rights and transparency in the platform economy.

435 Million Gig Workers, Secret Pricing Systems & The Global Fight for Transparency in the Digital Economy The World Bank estimates there are more than 435 million online gig workers worldwide, yet most have little visibility into the algorithms that determine what they earn. In this special episode of Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast , recorded live at Web Summit Rio, we explore who really benefits from the platform economy and why transparency, worker rights and data ownership have become global issues. Joining host Ania Lichtarowicz are Len Sherman , Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School and researcher on platform economics; Luiz Neves , CEO and founder of GigU, the app helping drivers understand the true profitability of ride and delivery offers; and Angelica Mari , award-winning journalist and CEO covering technology, innovation and the future of work in Brazil and beyond. Together, they discuss Uber's take rates, algorithmic pricing, the battle over driver data, platform regulation, and why governments in 187 countries are debating the future of digital labour. This is an essential conversation on the future of work, the gig economy, AI-driven…

People in this episode

Host: Ania Lichtarowicz

Guests: Len Sherman, Luiz Neves, Angelica Mari

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: World Bank, GigU, Columbia Business School, Web Summit Rio, Somewhere on Earth

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