The video explores the trend of college graduates taking on side hustles to correct inaccuracies in AI-generated content, featuring Scott O’Neal, who earns between $300 to $1,000 weekly by refining AI responses for Scale, a data company. It highlights the increasing demand for skilled human input in AI training, the flexibility of gig work, and the challenges faced by contractors, including criticisms of working conditions.
The video discusses the emerging trend of college graduates taking on side hustles to correct inaccuracies produced by artificial intelligence (AI) systems. It highlights the experience of Scott O’Neal, a plumbing sales associate from Covington, Louisiana, who spends his evenings working as a contractor for Scale, a $14 billion AI data company. O’Neal’s role involves evaluating and refining AI-generated responses, ensuring they are factual, well-written, and free from robotic tones. His earnings from this side job can range from $300 to $1,000 per week, depending on the hours he dedicates.
O’Neal is part of a growing workforce of freelancers on Outlier, a platform owned by Scale, where individuals complete paid tasks to train generative AI models for corporate clients like Google, Meta, and OpenAI. The demand for human input has surged since the release of ChatGPT in 2022, as AI models require fine-tuning to produce accurate and appropriate responses. This includes tasks such as evaluating diplomatic emails, solving complex physics problems, and writing code, which necessitate a high level of expertise.
The video emphasizes that as AI technology advances, the need for skilled human contributors has increased. Scale reports that 87% of Outlier workers hold college degrees, with a significant portion possessing advanced degrees such as master’s or PhDs. This trend reflects a shift towards utilizing highly educated individuals to enhance AI models, as they bring specialized knowledge that machines cannot replicate.
Scale’s focus on U.S.-based contributors marks a departure from the common practice of outsourcing work overseas. The company has seen its workforce expand across thousands of towns in the U.S., with major cities like Houston, Chicago, and New York being prominent hubs. The appeal of Outlier lies in its flexibility, allowing workers to engage in gig-like tasks from the comfort of their homes, similar to driving for Uber or delivering for Postmates.
Despite its rapid growth and success, Scale has faced criticism and legal challenges from contractors alleging poor working conditions, including inadequate mental health support and wage theft. These issues highlight the ongoing concerns surrounding the treatment of gig workers in the tech industry. The video concludes by encouraging viewers to explore more about this topic through Richard Neeva’s piece on Forbes.com.