This essay is based on interviews with Brook, a 46-year-old freelance data worker and mother from Michigan. Business Insider has verified her work history. The content has been edited for clarity and conciseness.
Starting a Freelance Career in Data Work
Since 2006, I have been engaged in behind-the-scenes tech work—long before most people started to recognize artificial intelligence (AI). My journey began as a freelance crowd worker on Amazon Mechanical Turk, where I took on tasks such as tagging photos, transcribing business cards, filing receipts, and checking website functionality.
The Evolution of AI Gig Work
Over the years, the landscape of freelance work has transformed significantly, especially with the rising demand for AI-related tasks. Today, my work varies widely, encompassing activities like training AI voice assistants, labeling harmful social media content, rewriting chatbot responses, and recording speech.
Flexibility and Additional Income
I have never held a full-time position in this field. As a freelancer, a mother of young children, and a school board member in Michigan, I utilize platforms like MTurk, Appen, Neevo, Prolific, and Data Annotation. Some projects can pay as much as $40 an hour, but these opportunities are rare and highly competitive.
This side gig doesn’t serve as my main source of income; instead, it helps with extras, such as birthday gifts and groceries. I typically work a couple of hours at night after my kids have gone to bed, seizing good opportunities as they arise due to the unpredictable nature of project availability. The flexibility is what keeps me returning to this type of work.
Exploring Mystery Shopping on Facebook Ads
One of my most interesting projects spanned nearly three years, where I mystery-shopped Facebook ads. This involved purchasing items advertised on the platform and reporting on their authenticity and quality.
Each time, I would log into a dashboard and see an ad with instructions to purchase if possible. I was only allowed to skip products that were illegal, fraudulent, or required subscriptions. There was a $150 spending cap per product, and I was reimbursed for everything I bought, earning $5 for each review. On average, I dedicated around four hours a month to this task—two hours purchasing and two hours writing reviews, evaluating roughly eight products monthly.
The Goods Received
Throughout the duration of this project, I ordered a diverse range of items, including skincare products, wig accessories, Shein clothing, and even designer items like Birkenstock sandals and Ray-Ban sunglasses. While some products were satisfactory, others were low-quality knockoffs that I discarded immediately. I found spreadsheets beneficial for tracking my purchases, accumulating a trove of mystery boxes at my doorstep.
A Quick Conclusion on Mystery Shopping
The mystery shopping project concluded unexpectedly in February 2024. I logged in one day only to find it no longer available, surprised by how long it lasted. Compared to other gig work, it was low-stakes and relatively enjoyable, providing stability without demanding excessive effort.
Choosing the Right Projects in AI Gig Work
In navigating different gig opportunities, it’s essential to concentrate on platforms yielding good work while having a backup plan when resources dry up. Noteworthy among my experiences are voice projects that required me to record numerous phrases to enhance AI voice assistant recognition.
Prolific has emerged as a reliable source, where I earn between $10 to $15 an hour for academic surveys or data labeling tasks, with some projects paying $28 an hour—though these are rarer.
Importantly, I avoid offers that seem intrusive, such as requiring personal video submissions for AI training, choosing mainly writing prompts, chatbot training, and data annotation instead. The flexibility of this work complements my responsibilities as a parent, enabling me to participate in my children’s lives while still earning additional income.
The Evolving World of Freelance Tech Work: A Personal Journey
Meet Brook, a 46-year-old freelance data worker and mother from Michigan, who has navigated the landscape of tech-focused gig work since 2006.
From Early Days to Modern Opportunities
Brook’s journey began with tasks on platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk, where she undertook a range of responsibilities such as tagging images, transcribing documents, and verification tasks. As artificial intelligence (AI) gained traction, the scope of gig work expanded significantly, providing more avenues for freelancers like Brook to explore diverse projects.
Freelancing: Balancing Work and Family Life
Unlike many in the gig economy who rely on this work as their primary income, Brook strategically integrates freelance tasks into her life. Juggling her role as a mother, a school board member, and a freelancer, she uses various platforms like Appen and Prolific. This work supplements her family’s finances, funding expenses such as birthday gifts and groceries.
Unique Projects: Mystery Shopping Experience
For almost three years, Brook participated in a mystery shopping initiative focused on evaluating Facebook advertisements. This role required her to purchase items advertised on the platform, assessing the quality and authenticity of the products received.
Analyzing Quality and Spending
With a cap of $150 per product, Brook received reimbursements for her purchases, alongside a $5 fee for each review. Her experience included ordering a plethora of items, ranging from skincare products to footwear. While some purchases were rewarding, including authentic designer goods, others yielded disappointments, emphasizing the variability of online shopping.
Shifting Gears: Adapting to Freelance Trends
As the freelance landscape evolves, Brook remained open to various opportunities. Although some projects paid exceptionally well, others, like voice assistant training, showcased the impressive potential of gig economy jobs. Platforms such as Prolific have also been reliable fixtures in her workload, providing a steady stream of data annotation and survey completion tasks.
Finding Flexibility in a Changing Work Environment
Brook treasures the flexibility of her freelance work, allowing her to attend her children’s events while staying productive. Balancing her professional obligations with personal commitments, she emphasizes the importance of work-life harmony that freelance roles often offer.
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