34-year-old entrepreneur earns $200 an hour from side gig training AI models: 'Intellectual curiosity drew me in' (www.cnbc.com)

Utkarsh Amitabh, a 34-year-old entrepreneur and part-time lecturer, has joined micro1, a U.K.-based data labeling startup, to train AI models, earning around $200 an hour. Initially approached in January 2025, Amitabh, who holds diverse academic qualifications and a background in AI-related business development at Microsoft, expressed that his decision was driven more by intellectual curiosity than financial motivation. His role involves analyzing complex business challenges, breaking them down into clear language for AI comprehension, and refining models through an iterative trial-and-error process that demands significant attention to detail. The significance of Amitabh’s engagement with micro1 highlights the growing trend of utilizing domain experts to improve AI model training as conventional data sources become saturated. Micro1's strategy of leveraging a network of over 2 million specialists, including professionals from various fields, underscores the crucial intersection of human insight and machine learning. As more companies harness AI tools, debates around the technology's impact on job markets intensify. Amitabh acknowledges the uncertainty in the labor landscape but aligns with a techno-optimistic perspective, believing that AI advancements can foster job creation and enhance the collaborative relationship between humans and machines.