At the start of the year, the rise of artificial intelligence sparked an important question for the future of labor. Will AI eventually replace our jobs? After a year of strikes and security issues, it’s clear that the technology still has some ways to go. Now, a new report has revealed a strange truth about the AI industry.

May I take your order?

In the United States, Presto Automation, an artificial intelligence company, prides itself as an instrumental tool in reducing human labor time. The company specializes in providing AI-based solutions to drive-thrus. Instead of relying on humans employees to take customer orders at a drive thru, food establishments with the technology, such as Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, can use automated software to do the same.

However, according to Bloomberg, the truth is less than glamorous. A recent filing with the Security and Exchange Commission revealed that over 70 percent of customer interactions done through Presto Automation is actually mediated by “off-site agents” in other countries including the Philippines.

While the main technology is still automated, the company still needs human intervention to ensure accurate orders. Also, while the SEC is investigating the company, Presto Automation recently changed its business description to reflect the need for “advanced human supervision.” It formerly claimed that the technology needs no human intervention at all.

Presto Automation isn’t even the first AI company to actually use off-site agents for their operation. Another company, ConverseNow, is also doing the same thing. Last year, Nate, an automated shopping platform, was caught for reportedly hiring workers in the Philippines to manually complete orders.

AI-based outsourcing

Automation is certainly changing the world for good or for ill. However, the technology is still far away from achieving its founders’ goals of replacing human labor. Beyond that, it’s also light years away from a more humanistic goal: replacing humans but allowing those same humans to still flourish on their own.

At this stage, AI-based automation is still following the same trends of late-stage capitalism. Companies are still outsourcing work from other countries. Whenever you order something online or through an automated platform, there’s a chance that someone from somewhere far away is behind your latest order.

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Much like your favorite movies and shows, your favorite video games are also deserving of awards at the end of the year. Though a lot of organizations give out awards throughout the season, the biggest event is the annual Game Awards hosted by Geoff Keighley. If you missed the event, here’s a rundown of the winners this year.

Game of the Year

• Alan Wake 2
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Resident Evil 4 Remake
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Game Direction

• Alan Wake 2
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Narrative

• Alan Wake 2
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Final Fantasy 16
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Best Art Direction

• Alan Wake 2
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Lies of P
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Score and Music

• Alan Wake 2
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Final Fantasy 16
• Hi-Fi Rush
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Audio Design

• Alan Wake 2
• Dead Space Remake
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Resident Evil 4 Remake

Best Performance

• Ben Starr, Final Fantasy XVI
• Cameron Monaghan, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• Idris Elba, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Melanie Liburd, Alan Wake 2
• Neil Newbon, Baldur’s Gate 3
• Yuri Lowenthal, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Innovation in Accessibility

• Diablo IV
• Forza Motorsport
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Street Fighter 6

Games for Impact

• A Space for the Unbound
• Chants of Sennaar
• Goodbye Volcano High
• Tchia
• Terra Nil
• Venba

Best Ongoing Game

• Apex Legends
• Cyberpunk 2077
• Final Fantasy 14
• Fortnite
• Genshin Impact

Best Indie Game

• Cocoon
• Dave the Diver
• Dredge
• Sea of Stars
• Viewfinder

Best Debut Indie Game

• Cocoon
• Dredge
• Pizza Tower
• Venba
• Viewfinder

Best Mobile Game

• Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis
• Honkai: Star Rail
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure
• Monster Hunter Now
• Terra Nil

Best Community Support

• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Destiny 2
• Final Fantasy 16
• No Man’s Sky

Best VR/AR Game

• Gran Turismo 7
• Humanity
• Horizon: Call of the Mountain
• Resident Evil Village
• Synapse

Best Action Game

• Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon
• Dead Island 2
• Ghostrunner 2
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Remnant 2

Best Action/Adventure Game

• Alan Wake 2
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Resident Evil 4
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best RPG

• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Final Fantasy 16
• Lies of P
• Sea of Stars
• Starfield

Best Fighting Game

• God of Rock
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
• Pocket Bravery
• Street Fighter 6

Best Family Game

• Disney Illusion Island
• Party Animals
• Pikmin 4
• Sonic Superstars
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Best Sports/Racing Game

• EA Sports FC 24
• F1 23
• Forza Motorsport
• Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged
• The Crew Motorfest

Best Sim/Strategy Game

• Advanced Wars 1+” Re-Boot Camp
• Cities: Skylines 2
• Company of Heroes 3
• Fire Emblem Engage
• Pikmin 4

Best Multiplayer Game

• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Diablo 4
• Party Animals
• Street Fighter 6
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Content Creator of the Year

• IronMouse
• PeopleMakeGames
• Quackity
• Spreen
• SypherPK

Best Esports Athlete

• Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok
• Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
• Max “Demon1” Mazanov
• Paco “HyDra” Rusiewiez
• Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk
• Phillip “ImperialHal” Dosen

Best Esports Coach

• Christine “potter” Chi
• Danny “zonic” Sorensen
• Jordan “Gunba” Graham
• Remy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam
• Yoon “Homme” Sung-young

Best Esports Event

• 2023 League of Legends World Championship
• Blast.tv Paris Major 2023
• EVO 2023
• The International Dota 2 Championships 2023
• VALORANT Champions 2023

Best Esports Game

• Counter-Strike 2
• Dota 2
• Leage of Legends
• PUBG Mobile
• Valorant

Best Esports Team

• Evil Geniuses
• Fnatic
• Gaimin Gladiators
• JD Gaming
• Team Vitality

Most Anticipated Game

• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
• Hades 2
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Star Wars Outlaws
• Tekken 8

Best Adaptation

• Castlevania: Nocturne
• Gran Turismo
• The Last of Us
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie
• Twisted Metal

Player’s Voice

• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Genshin Impact
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The Game Awards is the pinnacle of gaming events these days. During the annual ceremony, the best games of the year are recognized and awarded. However, it also reveals trailers for highly anticipated titles coming within An enduring franchise for a lot of gamers,

Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster Hunter is ready to take it to the next generation. Kicking off the sixth generation, Monster Hunter Wilds takes advantage of next-gen graphics. Newer and grander monsters are coming. While there’s still a lot of mystery surrounding the upcoming game, the trailer reveals a desert-themed map and flying mounts.

OD

Once again, Hideo Kojima is the master of mystery in the gaming industry. We have no way to describe this game accurately. It’s a Kojima project for Xbox. It will also have acclaimed director Jordan Peele, Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schafer, and Udo Kier attached. That’s enough of a reason to check it out.

Marvel’s Blade

Hot off the heels of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Marvel has a new gaming project: Marvel’s Blade. However, rather than Insomniac Games, this project will be helmed by Bethesda and Arkane Lyon, the minds behind the Dishonored series and Deathloop.

God of War Ragnarok Valhalla

One of the craziest drops this Game Awards, one of last year’s best game, God of War Ragnarok, is getting a free DLC in a few days’ time. While it’s not exactly a new game, it will meld the fluid combat of the original game with the dynamic gameplay of the roguelite genre.

Final Fantasy XVI: Echoes of the Fallen and The Rising Tide

Both announced this event, Final Fantasy XVI will get a pair of DLCs. The first one, Echoes of the Fallen, is already available with new chapters. Meanwhile, The Rising Tide will come out next spring.

Zenless Zone Zero

Hoyoverse is back with its next title. Inspired by the ARPG genre, Zenless Zone Zero takes the studio’s iconic style to a new universe with all-new gameplay.

Skull and Bones

Inspired by the success of Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, Skull and Bones was announced a long time ago without a release date. Now, Ubisoft has revealed when the pirate-themed RPG is coming: February 16, 2024.

World of Goo 2

World of Goo was such an indie hit back in the day that gamers are still playing the physics-based puzzler today. Now, the title is finally getting a sequel. Featuring the same mechanics as the original, World of Goo 2 will experiment with more ways to connect goo blobs. It’s coming next year.

DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO

A BUDOKAI TENKACHI game in everything but name. And Bandai Namco has confirmed as much saying this game retains the all the battle and action elements of the aforementioned game. This includes follow-up attacks and timing-based counters, while adding all-new actions. They’re calling this one the ultimate 3D Dragon Ball action battle game.