In a striking twist for the modern workforce, a new wave of white-collar professionals in India and globally are finding lucrative income by essentially teaching artificial intelligence to perform their own jobs. This emerging sector, led by buzzy startups, is creating a paradoxical gig economy where expertise is both the ticket in and the potential path to obsolescence.
The Rise of the AI Training Gig
One of the most prominent players is Mercor, an AI startup valued at a staggering $10 billion. Unlike traditional gig platforms, Mercor isn't looking for drivers or delivery persons. It seeks highly educated subject-matter experts to review and critique the output of large language models (LLMs) that power popular chatbots and AI tools. The company hired a massive 30,000 contractors in 2025 alone, working on projects for tech giants like OpenAI and Anthropic.
The list of sought-after expertise is vast and specialized. It includes astronomers, psychologists, industrial engineers, filmmakers, creative writers, comedians, and legal experts. The pay can be exceptionally high, reflecting the niche knowledge required. For instance, a dermatologist can earn up to $250 per hour helping develop medical AI tools, while poets refining AI's understanding of literary nuance can make $150 per hour.
A Lifeline in a Tough Job Market
This new work avenue arrives amid growing economic uncertainty. With unemployment hitting a four-year high in November 2025, many skilled professionals are struggling. For them, Mercor and similar platforms offer a vital financial lifeline.
Take the case of Peter Valdes-Dapena, a 61-year-old automotive journalist laid off in 2024 after more than two decades. After months of unsuccessful job hunting, he now spends 20 to 30 hours a week critiquing AI's attempts at writing news articles for Mercor. While he finds the work challenging and even beneficial for his own writing, he acknowledges the internal conflict. "I didn't invent AI and I'm not going to uninvent it," he says, accepting the inevitable march of technology.
Similarly, Katie Williams, a 30-year-old video editor from Houston, landed a Mercor contract paying up to $45 an hour. Her work involves writing detailed captions for video clips and rating AI-generated videos. She jokes with friends that she's "training AI to take my job someday," a sentiment echoed by colleagues on Slack who feel their traditional job prospects are limited.
The Application Process and Strict Oversight
Getting hired isn't a simple click. Applicants must demonstrate their expertise in an interview process that often begins with an AI-conducted video interview with an unseen proctor. Once onboarded, contractors must install time-tracking software. This ensures they are working during billable hours and, crucially, aren't using AI to critique the AI—a shortcut some have attempted, according to a Mercor spokeswoman.
The contractual terms, however, have raised eyebrows. Laura Kittel, an academic, reviewed a contract that she interpreted as granting Mercor royalty-free rights to her existing and future academic papers for the benefit of an unspecified client. When she tried to amend it, an AI assistant named "Melvin" refused, leaving her with a take-it-or-leave-it choice. Mercor clarifies that the contract only applies to intellectual property used directly in a project, not a worker's independent creations.
Despite high earnings, the work is not without skepticism. The company's aggressive referral bonus of $250 has led to a flood of LinkedIn posts and speculation about scams. However, the work is genuine, posing deeper questions about the future of employment.
The Inevitable AI Future and Human Role
Professionals engaging in this work are grappling with its long-term implications. Sara Kubik, an attorney who does AI training for extra income, balks at the idea that AI will replace lawyers entirely, though she concedes legal assistants may be more vulnerable. Her hands-on work has given her a pragmatic view: "It's taught me the limitations of AI."
Mercor's official stance, provided in a written statement, frames this work as a responsible infusion of human expertise into AI systems. "Many of our experts see it as their responsibility to infuse their knowledge... to ensure accurate and thoughtful outcomes," the spokeswoman said, arguing that humans won't run out of meaningful work.
As AI continues to advance, this new gig economy highlights a complex transition. For thousands of skilled Indians and global professionals, training AI provides crucial income today, even as it carefully scripts the capabilities of their potential replacements tomorrow. The ethical and economic contours of this trade-off will define the next chapter of the white-collar world.
