PhD Candidate, MIT
Contributor, Platypus, The CASTAC Blog
About Ambar
I am a PhD candidate in History, Anthropology, and STS (HASTS) at MIT. My research explores the intersections of technology, labor, migration, and digital platforms, with a focus on how workers and entrepreneurs use digital infrastructures to build networks, circulate goods, and navigate economies across borders.
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Contributions to Platypus, The CASTAC Blog
View all of Ambar's posts on Platypus, The CASTAC Blog.
Beyond Delivering Food: Networks, Risk, and the Hidden Infrastructure of Gig Work
I was picking up an order on 67th st and Columbus Ave when I saw the guy get on my bike and start to ride away. I got out of the shop and grabbed him; he said, “Sorry, I thought it was my bike.” A friend helped me hold onto him so we could call the police. The guy tried to break free and reached into a DoorDash bag he was carrying… Suddenly, he pulled out a syringe and started threatening us with it. I let go of his shirt but kept holding onto a backpack he was wearing; eventually, he slipped out of the backpack and ran away. I called the police to hand over the backpack and the DoorDash bag (which contained multiple syringes and a knife), but they never showed up. (more…) (read more...)