1. Introduction

This chapter delves into the profound impact of digital technologies on the world of work, highlighting the rise of platform economies and their implications for labour conditions and capital-labour relations. It explores how advanced digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, and the Internet of Things have transformed the organisation of production, internal structures within firms, and the nature of work itself. The chapter focuses on the emergence of novel, digitally driven business models and the rise of online digital labour platforms like TikTok, Uber, and Deliveroo, which have established online infrastructures enabling a wide array of labour activities. It examines the profound changes in how people work, socialise, generate economic value, and compete for profits, with a particular focus on the Chinese context. The chapter also discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by this digital revolution, including the rise of platform capitalism, the gig economy, and the impact on labour conditions and capital-labour relations. It concludes by highlighting the need for a critical examination of the power relations embedded in digital labour platforms and the emergence of new forms of resistance and collective action among platform workers.