As AI models grow more complex, the tasks performed by humans to train them have also evolved, leading to a new focus on U.S.-based labor for Scale AI, a $14 billion company. By Richard Nieva, Forbes Staff. Scott O’Neil, a plumbing sales associate in Covington, Louisiana, spends his nights training advanced AI models. He works as a contractor for Scale, evaluating AI-generated responses to ensure they are factual, well-written, and not robotic. O’Neil, who holds a degree in web development, earns between $300 to $1,000 weekly based on his hours. He is part of Outlier, Scale’s platform where freelancers train generative AI models for clients like Google, Meta, and OpenAI. Over the past year, U.S.-based workers have become the fastest-growing segment on Outlier. Scale launched Outlier in 2023, following the global AI boom initiated by OpenAI’s ChatGPT release. AI models like Google’s Gemini or Meta’s Llama rely not only on machine learning but also on human workers who fine-tune responses, filter inappropriate content, and translate texts. As AI becomes more sophisticated, it increasingly requires highly skilled humans with specific expertise to refine its models. This includes MFAs writing short stories and PhDs ensuring mathematical accuracy or coding at professional levels. Scale reports that 87% of Outlier’s contributors hold college diplomas, with 48% having Bachelor’s degrees, 27% Master’s degrees, and 12% PhDs. Scale’s focus on U.S. labor aligns with CEO Alexandr Wang’s “America first” philosophy for AI. The company has secured defense contracts with the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Defense Innovation Unit. A new contract under the Defense Department’s Thunderforge program will deploy AI agents for military use. Scale’s emphasis on hiring Americans aims to ensure the U.S. has a voice in AI models, incorporating human expertise, values, and preferences. Xiaote Zhu, General Manager of Outlier, emphasized the importance of having contributors who represent American citizens. Despite its growth, Scale has faced criticism and lawsuits from Outlier contractors alleging poor working conditions and wage theft. In response, Scale has made improvements, such as enhancing payment transparency and offering health and wellness programs. Outlier contractors, like Karen Hart, appreciate the flexibility and remote work opportunities, though some criticisms persist regarding time constraints and compensation. Scale maintains that it provides clear task duration estimates and agreed-upon compensation before work begins. — news from Forbes
