Uber has started using its drivers to help train AI systems through short online jobs known as “digital tasks.” The idea is to give drivers another way to earn during quiet hours while also improving the company’s technology.
Uber’s latest Only on Uber 2025 report said that the pilot programme started in India and is now being rolled out across the US. It is powered by Uber’s AI Solutions Group, which designs the systems used to improve how its platform operates.
Basically, drivers complete small digital jobs through the Driver app and these tasks help improve the accuracy of AI tools used both within Uber and by other companies.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said at the company’s event in Washington, DC, that this new feature is one of many updates intended to making earning “easier, safer, and more fair.” He explained that millions of people use Uber for flexible work each month and that the company is looking for new ways to make that work more rewarding.
What Are These “Digital Tasks”?
The new digital jobs are things like uploading photos, reviewing AI answers or recording short audio clips. Each task is designed to take only a few minutes and can be done when drivers are waiting for their next trip or relaxing at home.
Uber’s announcement claims these tasks connect workers to “companies that need real people to help improve their technology.” This means that while the jobs are created inside the Uber app, the work might support other firms’ AI training data too.
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Earlier this year, Khosrowshahi told the Bloomberg Tech conference that some Uber earners had already been testing out such work. At the time, he said drivers were “labelling maps, translating language, looking at AI answers and grading AI answers.” The new rollout turns those tests into a formal way for drivers to earn.
The system is still in its early days in the United States. Drivers taking part are paid directly through Uber, much like they are for driving trips or deliveries. Uber has not shared the exact rates but said the goal is to make downtime more profitable for earners.
How Are Drivers Taking This Venture?
Early feedback from the India pilot was positive, according to Uber’s internal reports. Drivers there appreciated the extra flexibility and found it useful during slower periods. Uber said the same opportunity is now reaching the US and will likely be tested in more countries next year.
Drivers can choose when to complete the digital tasks, and none of the work affects their driving ratings or trip records. The company also said that the system uses safety checks and human review to make sure all uploaded data meets quality standards.
The company has not said how many drivers will be eligible for the digital tasks feature, but the early interest has been high. Uber could soon see thousands of drivers earning extra income while training the AI systems that power modern apps.
Many of these global companies are finding ways to train AI as they venture into the technology. This does make many skeptical about why so much human input is needed, what the risks behind this is, and other such worries.
Only time will tell how this will go…
