Uber Drivers Take on New Role: Training AI Models for Extra Cash
10 Sources
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Your Uber driver has a new side hustle: Training AI for cash
Compensation depends on a task's time commitment and complexity. There's more to being employed by Uber than simply driving around passengers -- at least, that's what Uber says. Following the expansion of its courier service in 2020, Uber is now offering drivers the opportunity to help companies
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Uber is turning its app into an AI training ground
In its quest to become the ultimate app for "flexible work," Uber launched today a new pilot to allow its US drivers and couriers to earn extra money by performing "microtasks" to train AI models. These tasks include audio voice recording, capturing and uploading images, and submitting documents
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Uber will soon offer drivers "AI chores" to earn a few more dollars between rides
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Editor's take: Human workers quietly underpin AI's apparent intelligence, performing low-paid labeling tasks that correct errors and refine outputs. As AI grows across industries, these micro-jobs
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Uber is paying drivers extra to train its AI models. Here are 3 things you can do to earn more cash | Fortune
If the wait time for an Uber seems longer than usual, perhaps your driver is in a parking lot uploading a Spanish-language menu as part of the new "digital tasks" program the ride-share giant announced yesterday, which pays drivers to train its AI models. As part of a pilot program, US-based
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Uber's newest gig work: Train AI to earn extra cash
The ride-hail app announced on Thursday a new pilot program that will offer gig workers the opportunity to train artificial intelligence (AI) through so-called "digital tasks." They include simple, quick tasks for workers such as uploading photos, recording themselves speaking in their native
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Uber enters the AI training market using its global driver network
Participants can upload images, record audio, or verify data directly in the Uber app for small payments. The move positions Uber against AI data-labeling firms like Scale AI and Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Uber has initiated a pilot program in the United States that allows its drivers and couriers
[7]
Uber is diving into AI. And it wants drivers to help
Uber is giving some drivers in the U.S. the option to earn money by completing tasks related to the company's nascent data labeling business, an area where the ride-share giant sees an opportunity to shine in the artificial intelligence boom. A new job category called "digital tasks" will appear
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Uber Is Piloting a New Way for Drivers to Make Extra Cash -- Without Being in a Vehicle
The payout for each task varies depending on the time commitment. Uber is piloting a new feature for U.S. drivers and couriers to earn extra income -- even when they're not driving passengers or delivering food. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announced the "Digital Tasks" pilot program at the Only on
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Uber Launches Program to Let Drivers Train A.I. Models In Their Downtime
The ride-hailing giant's new pilot program gives drivers paid opportunities to help train A.I. models. The life of an Uber driver often involves stretches of downtime -- waiting on ride requests or charging an electric vehicle's battery. To make the most of those idle moments, Uber is launching a
[10]
Uber Lets US Drivers Earn Extra Income with AI Data Labeling Tasks | PYMNTS.com
The program, launching later this fall, adds a "digital tasks" category to the Uber driver app. It allows registered drivers to complete short, smartphone-based assignments such as uploading restaurant menus or recording audio samples in multiple languages. Payments will vary by task and time
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Uber launches a pilot program allowing US drivers to earn additional income by performing AI training tasks. This initiative positions Uber as a competitor in the AI data labeling market and raises questions about the future of gig work.
Uber's New AI Training Initiative: Drivers Turn Data Labelers
Uber, the ride-hailing giant, is expanding its gig economy offerings with a novel approach to AI training. In a move that blends the worlds of transportation and artificial intelligence, Uber is set to launch a pilot program allowing its US-based drivers and couriers to earn extra income by performing "digital tasks" to train AI models
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Source: The Verge
The AI Training Program
The program, slated to begin later this year, will offer drivers the opportunity to complete various microtasks through Uber's Driver app. These tasks include:
- Submitting videos of themselves speaking in their native language
- Uploading pictures of specific everyday items
- Presenting documents written in different languages
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Compensation for these tasks will vary based on time commitment and complexity, with earnings reflected in the driver's balance within 24 hours of completion
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Source: ZDNet
Strategic Implications
This initiative positions Uber to compete with established players in the AI training field, such as Scale AI and Amazon's Mechanical Turk
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. It's part of Uber's broader strategy to become "the best platform for flexible work," as stated by CEO Dara Khosrowshahi2
.The move comes on the heels of Uber's acquisition of Belgian startup Segments.ai, aimed at expanding its data-labeling business
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. While Uber has previously used independent contractors for AI model training, this marks a significant expansion of such efforts2
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Source: Entrepreneur
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Potential Impacts and Concerns
The program raises questions about the evolving nature of gig work and its intersection with AI development:
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Driver Reception: It remains to be seen how Uber drivers, many of whom already express concerns about low pay, will respond to these additional tasks
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Privacy and Data Usage: The privacy policy surrounding the program is unclear, and Uber states it will not disclose the names or business goals of AI companies to participants
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AI Training Ethics: This approach could be seen as a workaround for AI companies facing copyright legal battles over training data
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Broader Implications for AI and Gig Work
The initiative highlights the growing role of human workers in refining AI models. As AI expands across industries, these micro-jobs are becoming more prevalent, forming an invisible workforce that powers generative models
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.Critics point out the lack of regulation and safety measures for this emerging workforce, dubbed "Turkers" in Amazon's ecosystem
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. The high valuations of AI data-labeling startups suggest that this trend is likely to continue, with more gig economy companies potentially entering the market3
.As Uber ventures into this new territory, it not only reshapes the role of its drivers but also positions itself as a significant player in the AI data race, potentially competing with established firms like Scale AI, which recently received a $14 billion investment from Meta
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