Uber recently invited drivers to complete “digital tasks” in addition to carrying out pickup missions, which can not only increase income but also help Uber train artificial intelligence models.
According to the announcement on Thursday, participating drivers in the pilot program can perform “simple and quick tasks,” such as uploading documents or responding to prompts in their native language.
Uber stated that the task content and volume will depend on customer demand, and the company will use the input from drivers to train artificial intelligence models.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announced this pilot program at the “Only on Uber 2025” event held in Washington D.C. on Thursday.
Uber’s Product Director Sachin Kansal stated at the event that the idea stemmed from feedback from drivers who expressed a desire to generate income even when they are offline or not driving. Uber is currently working with artificial intelligence companies, allowing them to utilize the driver pool to train and optimize AI models, strengthening Uber’s emerging data services department – “Uber AI Solutions.”
According to PYMNTS, Uber recently acquired the AI startup company Segments AI.
These digital tasks mainly involve drivers recording voice, submitting multilingual documents, or uploading images to “enhance AI’s ability to analyze multilingual documents.”
Some drivers can access tasks through the “Work Hub” in the app, and most tasks can be completed anytime, anywhere with just a mobile phone. However, for safety reasons, these tasks will not be displayed while the driver is accepting orders online.
Uber states that compensation is based on the task’s difficulty and time spent: tasks taking 1-2 minutes earn $0.50, tasks taking 2-3 minutes earn $1.00, and tasks taking 3-10 minutes earn $4.00. Payments will be credited to the driver’s account within 24 hours.
Kansal mentioned, “Whether it’s uploading files or audio digital tasks, or delivery orders, we are dedicated to providing drivers on the platform with as many money-making opportunities as possible that align with their circumstances and needs.”
Meanwhile, discussions on the Reddit forum r/WorkOnline show that many registered drivers have only sporadically received “digital tasks” but are hoping to undertake more tasks. One driver expressed, “I passed verification within a day, but after verification, the task volume dropped from 5 to 0. I hope to eventually receive tasks.”
Uber has currently been testing digital task features in India and plans to roll them out in the United States by the end of the year.
(This article was referenced from “News Weekly”)