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The take: Uber's Digital Tasks program now hires PhDs for $50-100/hour to train AI models.
What happened: On 5 November 2025, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announced Uber expanded its Digital Tasks program to include PhD-level workers for AI training tasks.
Why it matters: Gig platform work expands into specialized knowledge work. Advanced degree holders now perform contract-based AI training alongside other platform workers.
What to watch: Uber's launch of 100,000 robotaxis in 2027. The AI training program develops algorithms for the deployment of autonomous vehicles.
[Analysis] Bloomberg covers Uber's AI infrastructure play and robotaxi timeline. Published 28 October 2025.
The Digital Tasks expansion follows Uber's January 2025 data-sharing deal with Nvidia and the September pilot launch in India, positioning the company as both a fleet operator and an AI training data provider.
Khosrowshahi told investors on the Q3 earnings call, "Another way of looking at our platform is that we're a platform for work. Besides transportation, we can empower other kinds of work as well."
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