AI-Managed Delivery Platforms Harm Workers' Health: Anses Alert
The French health authority Anses published findings on 26 March 2025 that AI systems used by meal delivery platforms to assign work and manage performance create health risks for over 71,000 workers in France, causing physical injuries, mental health problems, and forced work intensification.
What happened
The Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire (Anses), a French public health authority, released an assessment on 26 March 2025 of risks to delivery workers employed by meal delivery platforms. The assessment was initiated by the CGT trade union four years earlier.
The platforms use artificial intelligence to assign deliveries 'without direct human interaction' to optimize economic output. AI systems also manage consumer evaluation, remuneration changes, course attribution rules, and sanctions through automated processes.
Reported impact
The Anses found that AI-managed work organization poses risks to the health of over 71,000 independent delivery workers in France. Workers experience stress, fatigue, exhaustion from constant notification pressure, isolation and lack of stable professional relationships.
Reported health problems include traffic accidents, falls, musculoskeletal disorders, sleep disorders, metabolic diseases, respiratory and cardiovascular issues related to atypical working hours and difficult working environments, and mental health damage. Workers increase work hours to maintain adequate living standards, creating compounding short-, medium- and long-term health consequences.
Index analysis
The Anses characterized the work organization as 'at risk for health' and called for mandatory protection of workers' health and safety. The system lacks direct human oversight over decision-making that affects worker welfare and working conditions.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.