‘Never again’: Inside the chaotic world of the people making AI seem human

The data workers quietly powering AI are grappling with unstable pay, unclear expectations, and vanishing job security.

Jonathan, who lives in Washington D.C., was laid off in January this year. While searching for jobs on LinkedIn, he received a message offering him $40 per hour to train AI systems, with the possibility of full-time work. Jonathan—who, like everyone in this article, asked to go by a pseudonym or first name to speak openly about their experiences—saw the job as a nice side hustle while figuring out his next career move.