Music producer Robbie Hiser taught artificial intelligence some of the tricks of his trade for the multibillion-dollar company Mercor, yet remains confident that creative work like songwriting will always require a human touch because an AI never had a girlfriend break up with it,
cbsnews.com reported. Hiser is among more than 100,000 freelancers across various industries to train AI models like ChatGPT and Claude to improve their capabilities in fields ranging from finance to poetry.
Mercor and the Rise of AI Training Jobs
Mercor CEO Brendan Foody views the technological shift as a natural evolution that frees workers from dull, repetitive tasks to pursue more meaningful labor. AI training currently ranks as America’s fourth-fastest-growing job category on LinkedIn, with Mercor gig work paying between $20 and $200 an hour. Foody describes this work as the career of the future.
Did you know?
Nearly three-fourths of Americans fear that artificial intelligence is coming for their jobs, according to a Pew Research study. Furthermore, a September report from the McKinsey Global Institute indicates that AI could force 11 million U.S. workers into new careers by the year 2035.
Law Firms Deploy AI Personas Built by Stanford Researchers
Legal professionals are integrating customized artificial intelligence tools into their daily workflows. The Columbus, Ohio law firm Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease collaborated with Stanford University’s Liftlab to build AI personas trained on the experiences and philosophies of senior lawyers. Trial lawyer and partner Kim Herlihy noted that while these personas provide feedback on documents from the unique perspective of individual partners, AI is never going to walk into the courtroom and give an opening statement to the jury.
Herlihy emphasized that the technology is designed strictly for optimization rather than replacement. AI cannot take the place of what’s a fundamentally human business,
she said, explaining that clients ultimately call lawyers to look them in the eye and seek direct advice.
Nobel Prize Winner Warns of Potential Unemployment Risks
Nobel Prize-winning economist Daron Acemoglu expressed concern that current trajectories will lead to widespread automation and worker displacement. Acemoglu noted that while the first phase of the Industrial Revolution took 80 years, the current transition is happening across multiple sectors in just one or two years. He cautioned that unemployment could triple in the next decade in a worst-case scenario if the United States continues on its present course without intervention.
While acknowledging that some employment opportunities exist for AI trainers, Acemoglu stated that the number of people hired for those positions is very small compared to the vast workforce being replaced.
Stanford Research Shows Declining Hiring for Recent College Graduates
Although overall unemployment remains steady, research from Stanford University reveals that hiring is down for young people in the most AI-exposed roles, such as software developers. Additional data from the U.S. Census shows that hiring and wages for recent college graduates in AI-exposed majors have declined due to automation.
Clara Shih, who previously oversaw major artificial intelligence divisions at Salesforce and Meta, observed that tasks once requiring dozens of people—from conceiving a product to building a prototype and delivering it—can now be handled by a small team using AI agents. Shih left her technology career in January to launch a nonprofit aimed at helping young workers handle the shifting economy, warning that the technology threatens not just livelihoods, but personal self-worth and community structures.
Answers About Artificial Intelligence Training Pay Rates and Automated Law Firm Personas
How much do AI training jobs typically pay?
Freelance work training artificial intelligence models for companies like Mercor currently pays between $20 and $200 per hour, making it the fourth-fastest-growing job category on LinkedIn.
What specific law firm is using Stanford-developed AI personas?
The Columbus, Ohio law firm Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease worked with Stanford University’s Liftlab to create AI personas based on the philosophies of its senior partners.
How many U.S. workers could be forced into new careers by 2035?
A September report from the McKinsey Global Institute indicates that artificial intelligence could force 11 million U.S. workers into new career paths over that timeframe.