Can we train AI to choose safety over speed?
Rest of World Ananya Bhattacharya
Delivery platforms in India use AI-powered weather algorithms to boost orders during monsoons, but workers face pressure to deliver anyway despite dangerous conditions. A 2026 study in Delhi found most delivery workers labored through extreme heat to meet performance targets, and platforms like Zomato issue safety warnings but leave the decision to work to individuals. Researchers and labor advocates argue that algorithmic systems must be redesigned to automatically reduce work demands or close zones during severe weather, rather than relying on worker choices made under economic duress.
Why it matters
Delivery platforms use sophisticated weather algorithms to profit from storm demand, while shifting all the physical risk onto workers trapped by pay incentives.
