"Uber just turned its transportation network into an AI training ground. The ride-hailing giant's announcement that Indian drivers could earn some extra money by labeling data for AI systems represents a direct assault on the rapidly expanding data labeling industry. The move positioned Uber's over one million Indian drivers as an instant workforce competing against established players like Scale AI and Amazon's Mechanical Turk platform."
"The pilot program would enable drivers across 12 Indian cities to complete "digital tasks" during downtime - encompassing everything from image classification and text analysis to audio transcription and receipt digitization, according to Megha Yethadka, Global Head of Uber AI Solutions. "Until now, in India and other countries, these tasks, such as labelling work, text classification, object counting, and receipt digitisation, were completed by independent contractors outside the app," Yethadka told ComputerWorld."
"The company reported early traction. "Early engagement has been strong, with many thousands of tasks already completed," Yethadka noted, adding that the pilot was "about giving drivers more choice, flexibility, and ways to earn" during downtime periods. However, interviews with multiple New Delhi-based drivers revealed none had access to these features yet, though one mentioned hearing about "extra earning opportunities coming up for Uber drivers.""
Uber is piloting a program that allows drivers in India to complete labeled "digital tasks" during downtime, such as image classification, text analysis, audio transcription, and receipt digitization. The pilot covers 12 Indian cities and aims to feed labeled data directly into AI systems. Early engagement has been strong, with many thousands of tasks already completed, according to Uber AI leadership. The rollout appears phased, with some New Delhi drivers reporting they do not yet have access. The program positions Uber's driver base as a competing workforce to established data-labeling providers and could shift enterprise AI data sourcing and pricing.
Read at Computerworld
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