Frequently asked questions

Outlier is a platform operated by Scale AI that is committed to making AI smarter, safer, and more efficient. To do so, we work with Outlier Experts and leading AI companies and labs to help train AI. These experts provide really valuable human feedback, which makes it easier for organizations to get the specialized data they need to build smarter language learning models (LLMs).

Outlier works with Outlier experts, leading AI companies, and labs to improve AI models. This collaboration helps make AI more knowledgeable, accurate, and impactful.

Depending on your expertise, you might generate or rank prompts, improve AI-generated outputs, or complete other tasks that enhance model performance.

Available projects may vary and might not always match your specific area of expertise.

Our projects vary in length; however, the demand for Generative AI contributions is increasing rapidly, and we don’t anticipate this slowing down in the foreseeable future, so there should frequently be projects available for you to work on.

We always appreciate feedback from our contributors. You can email our support team or leave a review on TrustPilot.

Outlier Experts appreciate the flexibility of their work, which gives them the freedom to take on freelance opportunities. Many of them mention that the work is engaging and a chance to learn new skills. Plus, there's a strong sense of community, and high earning potential is a big plus.

No—you’ll join Outlier as a freelancer/independent contractor, not an employee.

Outlier AI is a good work opportunity if you're looking to start your freelance career and want the ability to work part-time training AI. We have many contributors with great experience who have started their dream life by working remotely.

Yes, Outlier AI offers part-time opportunities for individuals with various expertise to train AI, making it a good side hustle. If you are interested, read about our freelance workers and check our part-time opportunities.

Outlier AI has a very selective screening process because we are aiming to find people with deep expertise in what they do. Since we are looking for candidates with advanced skills, critical thinking, and a good amount of experience, the selection can be competitive, and we can't accept everyone.

Yes, Outlier AI hires students for part-time opportunities to train AI as long as you’re of legal working age in your country. If you’re on a visa, it must allow you to work. If you're interested, we encourage you to explore our freelance and part-time opportunities on our careers page. This can be a flexible way to earn while you study.

We do not offer visa sponsorship.

Certain opportunities require an undergraduate degree, a Master’s degree, or PhD. But most roles are open to those pursuing a degree. You’ll also need to be fluent or highly proficient in English with strong writing skills.

No, you are not required to accept any invitations. This will not affect the number of projects that are made available to you.

Your visa must allow you to work, and it is your responsibility to ensure that you meet all legal requirements for working in your country of residence.

If you're unsure, we recommend consulting your immigration advisor for guidance.

You can set your own flexible schedule. You can work as much or as little as you want, whether five or 40+ hours per week. There are no minimum hour requirements to be on the platform.

We primarily offer two pay types: 

1. Hourly (most common, based on time spent). 

2. Per task (flat rate).

You'll always see the rate before starting. Pay varies by expertise, project, and location; specialized projects may pay more, but alignment with your expertise isn't guaranteed.

We process payments weekly on Tuesdays for work completed the previous Tuesday through Monday (midnight UTC), via PayPal, AirTM, or ACH transfer.

Yes, Outlier AI pays for completed work, either hourly or per task. Payment details are provided before each project, and we process payments weekly via PayPal, AirTM, or bank transfer.

The onboarding phase isn’t paid; however, it’s required to move onto paid project work.

After applying and getting approved, you will get access to projects. All projects on the platform have two main stages: qualification and tasking. 

During the qualification stage, you will review the project guidelines and complete assessment tasks to demonstrate your expertise and understanding. After passing the assessments, you will progress to the tasking stage, where you can work on deliverable tasks and start earning money.

To join, you’ll need:

• A valid ID and mobile phone from your country of residence.

• An up-to-date resume that highlights your expertise.

• A LinkedIn profile showing your educational background and work experience.

The initial onboarding process lasts less than an hour, followed by project-specific onboarding that usually takes one to three hours, depending on the project's complexity.

If you have questions before signing up, email us at onboarding@outlier.ai. Please use the subject line “Question about the opportunity.”