Uber Compensates Drivers for AI Tasks During Downtime Between Passengers

Uber has announced an innovative initiative where it will begin compensating drivers for completing “digital tasks”that assist in building artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. However, this opportunity will initially be limited to a select group of drivers.

The impact of AI is becoming increasingly significant across various industries. For instance, restaurants are utilizing AI technology to not only design menus but also prepare certain dishes. Meanwhile, the automotive sector employs robotic arms for assembling vehicle components. As AI continues to proliferate online and in everyday tasks, companies like Uber are exploring ways to incorporate AI into their operations, even as they refrain from deploying fully autonomous vehicles just yet.

Beginning in mid-October, Uber drivers in the United States will have the chance to engage in these digital tasks during their downtime while waiting for their next passenger or delivery assignment.

Opportunities for Uber Drivers

The digital tasks offered to drivers include activities such as scanning restaurant menus, providing audio narrations, and recording voice samples. Each task is designed to be completed in a minute or two, ensuring they are not overly demanding on the drivers’ time.

While drivers will earn a few extra dollars for each task completed, it’s important to note that this initiative is not meant to replace their traditional income from ride-hailing or food delivery. Instead, it serves as an additional avenue for financial gain.

This new role for drivers is part of Uber’s broader strategy to enhance its AI capabilities, following the company’s acquisition of Segments AI earlier this month.

Uber will give its drivers in the US an option to make money by doing “digital tasks”.These short minute-long tasks can be done anytime including while idling for passengers:▫️data-labelling (for AI training)▫️uploading restaurant menus ▫️recording audio samples of… pic.twitter.com/WO4eXqjbsg

— Bearly AI (@bearlyai) October 18, 2025

Despite the potential benefits, the announcement has spurred some public apprehension. Comments from concerned users include remarks like, “This is grim… really grim, ”and others describing it as “one of the most dystopian things I’ve read in recent times.”Suggestions have even emerged advocating for Uber to allow passengers waiting for their rides to participate in such tasks, highlighting the unusual nature of the initiative.

Some observers have pointed out that this could contribute to Uber’s development of valuable data for autonomous vehicles, akin to challenges faced by competitors like Waymo and Tesla, which deal with traffic violations and operational hiccups.

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