Karya

Karya is transforming the AI and data landscape through its ethical, people-first approach. Founded in 2021 in Bengaluru, Karya is the world’s first ethical data company dedicated to empowering underserved communities with dignified digital work opportunities. By breaking down complex AI data projects into manageable microtasks, Karya enables individuals from rural and low-income backgrounds to participate in the AI revolution, earning wages nearly 20 times higher than the Indian minimum wage.

The company’s platform has already delivered over 50 million tasks, positively impacting more than 100,000 workers across every Indian state and expanding to Kenya and Ethiopia. Karya builds datasets that are culturally and linguistically nuanced, spanning multiple Indic languages and dialects, as well as other low-resource languages. These datasets power advanced AI projects such as multi-turn conversational AI evaluations, bias mitigation, and image recognition, collaborating with industry leaders like Microsoft Research and Google DeepMind.

Karya’s impact goes beyond technology: it supports social progression by creating pathways out of poverty, focusing on ethical labour practices and gender inclusion. The company’s high standards have earned it global recognition, including being featured on the cover of Time magazine and receiving accolades from technology visionaries like Satya Nadella. With backing from prestigious organizations like the Gates Foundation, ACT Grants, and Echoing Green, Karya combines innovation with social responsibility.

At its core, Karya is shaping how AI is built, ensuring it respects diversity, dignity, and inclusion at every step. By connecting technology with human-centred values, Karya is not only advancing AI capabilities but also creating lasting economic opportunities for marginalized communities worldwide.