Uber Technologies is now adding programmers and data labellers to its gig workforce. Why? Because the company does not want to limit itself to rideshare but wants to foray into the market of artificial intelligence (AI) development outsourcing.
In line with this plan, Uber Technologies will now tap gig workers for data labeling and provide AI model training and data labelling services to clients/businesses. Therefore, its new division, Scaled Solutions, is now increasing the number of gig workers to accommodate programmers and data labellers as independent contractors. To meet the needs of Scaled Solutions, Uber has already started associating with contractors possessing various skills in India, the US, Canada, Poland and Nicaragua. The company is on the lookout for expert programmers who are proficient in language and possess cultural knowhow. These independent contractors will be paid per project or work completed.
Two clients, Aurora Innovation and Niantic, are already seeking their services.
While Aurora Innovation is a firm that develops self-driving software for commercial trucks, Niantic is a game developer, known for Pokemon Go. Contractors at Uber will help Aurora Innovation’s self-driving software categorise objects on the road with precision. Niantic will use Uber services to assess location data in its 3D map project for augmented reality (AR) games.
In addition to data labelling, Scaled Solutions will rely on the contractors’ local knowledge to adapt products culturally. It will depend on programmers to improve AI chatbots, and will hire freelancers to assess what advanced AI language models produce.
