Indian Workers Fuel AI Training

Why this is here: Mercor AI, a company valued at $2 billion by Forbes, initially advertised potential earnings of about $100 per hour to attract Indian workers for AI training tasks.

In India, Google, Meta, and Amazon’s subcontractors are directly recruiting workers online to train artificial intelligence. The companies bypass social legislation by offering project-based work with no contracts or regular pay.

Rampreet, a 23-year-old computer science graduate, worked for Mercor AI, a San Francisco company, evaluating mathematical responses from AI. He earned roughly $280 per month despite initial promises of high hourly wages.

Radhika, a business student, records audio and video—doing chores like dishes and laundry—for several Meta, Amazon, and Google subcontractors. A 2025 study by Fairwork at Oxford University identified 116 service providers, with nearly half relying on Indian labor to train chatbots. This practice echoes earlier instances in Venezuela and Kenya where tech companies similarly sourced cheap labor.

India’s new labor code, enacted in 2025, requires companies to contribute to employee social security, but Rampreet’s engagement letter did not reflect these protections. Some projects even require workers to review disturbing content.

Open AI reports 100 million weekly ChatGPT users in India, increasing demand for localized AI training. The search for affordable labor continues.