Uber Pilots AI Training Jobs for US Drivers During Downtime

TL;DR: Uber has launched a US pilot programme allowing drivers to earn money by training AI models through its Digital Tasks feature. The initiative offers photo capture and audio upload tasks to supplement driving income, particularly addressing concerns about autonomous vehicles threatening traditional gig work.

Uber has announced it will offer AI training work—dubbed “Digital Tasks”—to selected US gig workers through its driver app, expanding a programme already available to users in India. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated drivers have requested more earning opportunities beyond road time, positioning the pilot as a response to worker demand.

Context and Background

The Digital Tasks feature enables Uber and Uber Eats drivers to complete AI training assignments during downtime, including photo capture and audio clip uploads. Safety restrictions prevent workers from accessing these tasks whilst driving or waiting for rides. The work forms part of Uber’s AI Solutions Group, which sells AI training services to external businesses.

Uber has processed over 11 billion trips globally, making it one of the world’s largest ride-hailing platforms. The company already operates autonomous Waymo vehicles in Atlanta and Austin, with expansion planned for additional cities. This autonomous vehicle rollout has heightened concerns amongst gig workers about income security, with Khosrowshahi acknowledging that the eventual loss of driving work represents “a big problem for society.”

Looking Forward

The pilot addresses immediate income diversification needs whilst potentially previewing longer-term workforce transitions. Khosrowshahi has previously identified AI training roles as one mechanism to offset income losses from autonomous vehicle adoption, though the scale and sustainability of such work remains uncertain.

Additional platform updates announced alongside Digital Tasks include extended trip evaluation time for drivers, clearer multi-stop instructions, and expanded access to women-driver requests across Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle, and Washington DC. These changes reflect Uber’s broader effort to enhance driver retention as the industry navigates automation pressures.

Source Attribution:

Share this article