Link: Uber launches a data labeling service called Scaled Solutions, accepting gig worker signups from India, the US, Canada, Poland, and Nicaragua (Natalie Lung/Bloomberg)

Uber Expands to AI Gig Work

Uber Technologies Inc. now includes programmers in its gig-economy workforce, venturing beyond ridesharing to aid other companies in AI development. This new push into AI, through a division named Scaled Solutions, leverages a seasoned team skilled in data labeling and model training.

The initiative helps customers like Aurora Innovation and Niantic Inc., underlining Uber’s shift towards servicing expansive AI needs. Scaled Solutions evolved from an internal setup that managed vast annotation tasks for various Uber services.

With its extensive background in managing a flexible gig workforce, Uber is well-prepared to meet the growing demand for AI model training. The company engages contractors worldwide to enrich AI models with relevant data.

Contractors from diverse locales including the US, India, and Poland are encouraged to join, enhancing datasets with their unique local insights. Payments are made monthly based on task completion, appealing to a global workforce.

Uber’s strategic shift underscores its larger goal of harnessing broad gig-economy dynamics to penetrate the flourishing AI market. This is a crucial pivot as AI's dependence on accurate human-labelled data intensifies.

Despite a secretive stance on financials and client metrics, Uber's progress in AI and the gig economy sets a significant precedent for flexible, tech-driven employment opportunities.

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