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 drivers who opt in will be able to earn extra money (the amount depends on the complexity) on their phones between trips by:
- Recording audio in certain languages or accents.
- Entering documents in different languages (The Verge reports uploading a menu is worth as much as $1).
- Submitting specific photos.
Are drivers training their replacements? This new program is in support of Uber AI Solutions, which recently expanded its data-labeling business by purchasing Segments.ai, a Belgian startup that uses information gathered from cameras and sensors to enable autonomous driving. However, an Uber spokesperson said the data obtained from driver tasks will not be used to develop driverless vehicles.
AI data race: This move could allow Uber to become a bigger AI player and compete with companies like Scale AI, which offers similar data-collection services and received a $14 billion investment from Meta in June.—DL
This report was originally published by Morning Brew.