Side-hustling Californians strap on body cams to help AI bots behave more like humans: ‘Like getting paid for breathing’
https://www.aol.com/articles/side-hustling-californians-strap-body-215834426.html
Publish Date: 2026-03-12 22:20:00
Source Domain: www.aol.com
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Side Hustle for AI Training: Individuals in California are turning to a unique side job where they wear headsets with phone mounts to record themselves performing housework, helping to teach AI systems human behaviors.
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Instawork Facilitation: Instawork, a recruitment firm based in San Francisco, connects workers with these training jobs in the growing AI economy, offering payments of up to $80 for two hours of video footage.
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Global AI Training Markets: Similar initiatives are occurring globally, including “arm farms” in India and training centers in China, aiming to produce advanced humanoid robots.
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AI Market Growth: The global market for humanoid robots is projected to reach $38 million by 2035, driving the demand for first-person data to enhance AI capabilities.
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Tech Companies’ Efforts: Tech companies like Scale AI, backed by Meta, and Micro1, are collecting extensive footage to train robotic systems effectively.
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Easily Accessible Jobs: For workers like Salvador Arciga, recording daily chores using simple equipment offers an easy and straightforward way to earn extra income while helping AI advancements.
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Everyday Activities to Enhance AI: Everyday domestic activities are being captured by individuals to help improve robots’ ability to perform human tasks.
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Earnings & Skills: Apart from financial benefits, these jobs offer workers the opportunity to build technical skills and earn certifications.
