Beyond the Hype: The Messy Reality of Training AI

Scour LinkedIn jobs and you’re sure to come across half a dozen listings like the following: “Content Reviewer: Review AI content for clarity. Set your own hours.”

There are variations of these roles, but the deluge on job boards means one thing: training AI models is a real business. One World Economic Forum survey shows the fastest-growing skill in the marketplace is “AI and big data.”

Despite my initial hesitation about AI (I’m a writer, so I’ve had concerns about AI replacing my role), I decided to get on board with data annotation and AI data training. I’ve spent the last few months hopping from company to company, and I’d like to share an insider’s view of my experience.

First, the Positive Aspects of Data Annotation Work

With writing work being slow, I’ve had time in my sc...