How to Earn Extra Money from Home: Discover how MIT PhD Candidate Daniel Z Earns Extra Income on Outlier

Explore how PhD student Daniel Z. makes money online by contributing his expertise to remote AI projects.

As a PhD student at MIT, Daniel is immersed in the complex worlds of molecular biology and electrical engineering. But alongside his academic research, he’s found a surprising new way to apply his skills and earn extra income from home.

“AI has already changed the way that we go about our day-to-day lives in so many ways for the better,” Daniel says.

He discovered Outlier, a platform offering remote AI jobs to subject-matter experts. What caught his attention? The unique blend of intellectual challenge and the ability to make money online on a flexible schedule.

How to Earn Extra Money from Home with Remote AI Jobs

Daniel has now logged more than 100 hours on Outlier, participating in diverse freelance AI projects designed to improve large language models. The work aligns perfectly with his interests and academic strengths.

“My favorites have been in the multi-modal series,” he explains. “These are fun because they involve images. You use images and helper prompts to get the model to generate a response, then determine whether there were any reasoning errors along the way.”

Even more structured tasks, like single-turn prompt evaluations, offer insight into how today’s AI systems reason and respond.

“These are relatively straightforward tasks,” he adds, “where you generate a prompt, let the model choose between some user input responses, and grade them based on mathematical accuracy, conciseness, presentation, and so on.”

Flexible Online Jobs for PhD Students and Professionals

Daniel recommends Outlier to other students, researchers, and professionals looking for part-time jobs that fit into their existing commitments.

“The platform offers great flexibility, so you can work no matter how irregular your schedule may be.”

Outlier makes it easy to choose projects that suit your skills and availability. Whether you’re looking for flexible remote work in the evenings, on weekends, or between classes, you can jump in when you have the time.

Make Money with AI, and Join a Supportive Community

More than just a way to earn, Outlier offers training resources, community channels, and real-time support. Daniel highlights how the platform fosters a strong sense of community and learning:

“The community there is great and always available to answer any questions that you might have.”

He also appreciates that contributors, called Outlier Experts, are treated with respect and recognized for the value they bring.

“There are a ton of great things I’ve discovered on the platform, not to mention the experience of participating in the improvement of these new large language models.”

And of course, the financial benefits don’t hurt either.

“I’ve made about $4,000 working for Outlier,” Daniel says with a grin, “so not too bad.”

Ready to Earn Extra Income Online?

Whether you're pursuing a graduate degree, building your resume, or just exploring new ways to earn extra income online, Daniel’s story shows that meaningful, flexible, and rewarding work is possible.

Outlier’s projects span everything from STEM to linguistics, giving experts around the world the opportunity to make money with AI on their terms.

Interested in becoming an Outlier Expert?

FAQs on Outlier 

What qualifications do I need?

Outlier welcomes experts from all backgrounds. If you have specialized knowledge or a passion for AI, you’re encouraged to apply.

How much can I earn?

Earnings vary by project and time commitment. Daniel Z. earned $4,000 in a few months working part-time.

Are these jobs truly remote?

Yes, all Outlier projects are remote, allowing you to work from anywhere in the world.