Our Bureau
London
A UK-based Indian-origin entrepreneur earns $200 (Rs 18,000) per hour training AI models part-time, amassing nearly $300,000 (Rs 2.69 crore) since January through data-labeling startup micro1.
Utkarsh Amitabh, 34, juggles this gig with roles as Oxford Saïd Business School PhD student, university lecturer, author, and CEO of Network Capital, a global mentorship platform—all while parenting a one-year-old. Approached by micro1 in January amid newborn duties, Amitabh joined for its fit with his expertise in business strategy, financial modeling, and tech, driven by “intellectual curiosity.” He logs about 3.5 hours nightly post-bedtime, calling it a flexible extension of his interests rather than a mere add-on.
Amitabh’s credentials bolster his edge: a mechanical engineering undergrad, Oxford master’s in moral philosophy, and six-plus years at Microsoft in cloud computing and AI partnerships. He’s penned a book on the “side-hustle revolution” and a thesis probing AI’s impact on achievement. The role demands “immense attention to detail,” spotting human or machine errors as models evolve, sharpening his knowledge and creativity.
Money ranks secondary for Amitabh, who deems the pay “respectable” for expert work, including bonuses. A self-described “techno-optimist and techno-realist,” he dismisses AI “doom” fears, citing World Economic Forum projections of 78 million net job gains by 2030. “AI fear empowers us to upskill and reframe questions,” he told CNBC Make It, insisting it does “far more good than bad.”
