In a move to diversify income opportunities for its drivers, Uber (NYSE:UBER) is introducing digital tasks on its platform, creating new ways for participants to earn. This initiative, scheduled for release later this year, provides drivers with assignments such as uploading menus and recording speech samples, which they can perform alongside their usual driving duties. Uber’s strategy appears to be a broader effort to harness its human resources for more than just transportation, reflecting the company’s expansive vision.
Uber’s endeavors in artificial intelligence services are not entirely new. Earlier initiatives by Uber AI Solutions aimed at enterprise clients focused on a range of services including model training and translation. The recent expansion to numerous countries shows a continuity of these efforts to establish a solid foothold in AI services. This historical context highlights a pattern of growth in Uber’s business model, embracing complex technology markets beyond the traditional ride-sharing services.
What Are the Details of the New Initiative?
The new digital tasks category will be integrated into the Uber driver app, where tasks will be accessible at varying levels of complexity and compensation. These tasks are designed to be quick and easy, suitable for smartphone completion.
“This move is to provide flexible income earning opportunities,”
shared Sachin Kansal, Uber’s Chief Product Officer. The initiative seeks to use the company’s existing workforce creatively, giving drivers more financial flexibility.
How Will This Affect Drivers?
By incorporating such digital tasks, Uber aims to not only grant financial stability to drivers in off-peak hours but also ensures Uber stays competitive as an employer. This strategy ostensibly aligns with efforts to mitigate the risks associated with advancing autonomous vehicle technology and avoiding displacement among Uber’s driving community.
“It’s an effort to engage our drivers more comprehensively,”
Kansal said, stressing that participation in these tasks is voluntary and geared towards those looking for additional earnings beyond driving.
With the acquisition of Segments.ai, Uber has bolstered its capabilities in data labeling, critical for AI tasks. This acquisition suggests a focused commitment to expanding its technological and operational scope. The inclusion of such a startup within Uber AI Solutions highlights the aims of broadening its influence within the realm of automated and sensor data services, an area where demand is rapidly increasing.
The app-based tasks are constructed to be more straightforward compared to those listed on Uber’s web platform. The company’s testing in India hints at a prolonged evaluation phase, perfecting these tasks before expanding them to the U.S. market. Rumors suggest the program might eventually extend beyond drivers, reflecting an ambition to create a versatile and accessible workforce model.
This initiative speaks to a broader trend in utilizing human-verified data across the growing AI industry. As automation increases, companies like Uber are capitalizing on their driver network to enhance data acquisition for artificial intelligence education, potentially setting new standards in workforce participation in tech development.
