"High pay, chaotic scheduling: What it's like working for Uber's AI training arm,"

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For years, Uber delivered passengers and burritos using drivers who are independent contractors. Now, Uber is expanding its gig-work model into white-collar jobs, like training AI for clients...

Four workers — two current and two who were recently let go by Uber — said the job paid a higher hourly rate than similar AI training positions they previously held. The workers started their contracts with Uber and Google between last December and May. Three of the contractors worked on projects for Google, including Project Magi, the search giant's effort to add AI replies to search results.

Chaotic scheduling, sudden changes like the contractor who started getting work from Uber months after being onboarded, and a lack of training, meanwhile, hampered their day-to-day experience at Uber, the contractors said.

Uber and Google did not respond to requests for comment...

Uber told two of the workers in an email that they would have flexible schedules — a key benefit for many gig workers — and that they would be expected to work between 20 and 40 hours each week, with management deciding how many hours they would receive.

The caveat: The workers had to work at least 70% of their hours between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT "to facilitate real-time collaboration and regular standup meetings," according to the email...

While some contractors received close to a full-time allotment, others received zero hours and were told to check in the following week in case they were assigned hours...

This year, the contractor who had experience training AI for Google through another company was terminated at their Uber gig about a week after starting, according to an email shared with Business Insider. The email didn't include a reason for the termination.

Another worker, whom Uber recruited and onboarded last fall for a job that would pay $150 an hour, never received any hours. In December, he received an email saying the project he was recruited for had ended, and that Uber would reach out if it had more work for him...

The worker who received the sudden meeting invite in May said the lack of clarity has continued since he started working for Uber. At least one person on his team has been terminated since he started the gig, he said. Business Insider confirmed the termination.

No one at Uber or Google mentioned the termination after it happened, the contractor said. He found out from colleagues outside work channels...

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