The emergence of generative AI, capable of producing high-quality text and images in response to textual prompts, has triggered widespread fears about job disruptions. As of November 2022, business leaders, workers, and academics worldwide have been contemplating the possibility of generative AI displacing various professional roles.
Morgan Stanley's estimate that up to 300 million jobs could be automated by AI, spanning professions from office administration to legal work, engineering, and financial operations, has only fueled these concerns. Yet, it's the very human touch that's required to shape the inputs and outputs of next-gen AI models that's creating new paid careers and side hustles.
Prolific, a company connecting AI developers with research participants, stands as a prime example of this trend. They actively engage individuals in evaluating AI-generated content and offer monetary compensation for their contributions. Prolific encourages developers to pay participants a minimum of $12 per hour, with a base pay set at $8 per hour.
Participants in this AI review process are guided by influential organizations like Meta, Google, and leading universities. These clients play a vital role in training reviewers, helping them understand potentially inaccurate or problematic AI-generated content. As they engage in the research, participants provide their valuable insights to enhance AI models and ensure the content aligns with ethical guidelines.
The emergence of AI workers - individuals involved in reviewing and refining AI-generated content - is becoming a significant workforce trend. As AI continues to evolve, ethical considerations related to data sourcing, worker fairness, and transparency are becoming paramount. Ensuring AI systems are developed with ethical foundations and devoid of bias in their data is vital for creating AI-enabled applications that serve human interests effectively.
While AI sparks concerns about job displacement, it also creates new career opportunities. LinkedIn reports a surge in job postings related to AI and generative AI. Companies such as Hume use AI review platforms to assess their AI models' quality and align them with human preferences and ethical considerations.
New roles are emerging, including prompt engineers who craft text-based prompts for generative AI models. AI is also being used to automate regulatory document reviews with human oversight, expediting processes and improving accuracy.
The rise of AI in the employment landscape has redefined roles and sparked ethical considerations. As AI and human skills converge, the responsible development, transparency, and ethical use of AI systems become critical. This balance between AI technology and human oversight is an exciting path forward, bringing new opportunities and challenges to the workforce.
