"Uber has told some of its gig workers focused on AI training that it no longer needs them two months before their stint was supposed to end, Business Insider has learned. The workers are part of Project Sandbox, Uber's name for the AI training work it carries out for Google. The project represents an early effort by Uber to develop AI tools for other companies under its AI Solutions division."
"About a dozen contractors were involved in the project, two workers told Business Insider, though it wasn't immediately clear how many were cut. "The client has recently communicated a change in their internal priorities, which directly affects ongoing work on this program," Uber emailed the affected contractors on Monday. It added that Uber is "committed to keeping you in our network and will reach out with any upcoming opportunities where your profile is a strong fit." Three workers who spoke to Business Insider for this story had advanced degrees, such as PhDs, or work experience that could be relevant to AI training."
Uber ended some AI-training contracts for gig workers two months before their expected completion. The affected workers were part of Project Sandbox, the unit that provides AI training services to Google under Uber's AI Solutions division. About a dozen contractors participated, though the exact number of cuts was unclear. Uber emailed contractors saying a client changed internal priorities and that Uber would try to match affected workers with future roles. Some of the impacted contractors hold advanced degrees or relevant experience and expected at least three months of work. Uber declined to comment publicly on the matter. The company is piloting a Digital Tasks program to let gig workers complete AI-training tasks.
Read at Business Insider
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]