The changing face of gig work

Gig and ecommerce platforms supported the livelihoods of nearly 1.2 crore people in India in 2024-25. This number is expected to double by 2030, accounting for around 6.7% of India’s non-agricultural workforce. While agentic AI is unlikely to replace these workers in the near term, it has already entered the functioning of the gig economy and is beginning to reshape delivery work.

Algorithms increasingly control task allocation, incentives and ratings. Models designed to improve efficiency in delivery are also raising concerns around transparency and accountability. Delivery workers are not being replaced by agentic AI, but their work and performance are increasingly being shaped by algorithmic decisions.