Outlier is a platform operated by Scale AI for building and improving AI through expert human input. It connects experts in various fields with leading AI companies to provide human feedback for improving large language models (LLMs).
[Purpose] The platform is aimed at people with professional expertise in fields such as programming, STEM, and languages, allowing them to participate as AI trainers in the training and improvement of AI models while earning part-time income and gaining practical experience.
[Main capabilities and common tasks] According to the official description, common tasks on Outlier include writing challenging prompts, that is, coming up with a difficult question in one's own area of expertise that is sufficient to make an AI model give an incorrect answer, and then writing the correct answer. Such difficult question/answer pairs are considered helpful for teaching and improving the accuracy of AI models. The official statement says it relies on domain experts in areas such as programming, STEM, and languages to complete such work.
[How to use and participation process] The official starting steps are four steps (the page does not expand on the specific step contents). The onboarding process usually takes 30 to 90 minutes and includes: creating an account, choosing a field of expertise, completing a skills screening so the platform can match suitable projects, and identity verification. After completing general onboarding, participants enter project-specific onboarding that varies by project. After a project is completed, there may be opportunities to join other projects. Materials participants need to prepare include: a valid ID and phone in their country of residence, a current resume highlighting their professional abilities, and a LinkedIn profile showing educational background and work experience.
[Eligibility requirements] The official description states that the platform is looking for people with professional expertise in a wide range of fields. Specific eligibility requirements vary by opportunity; minimum qualifications usually require undergraduate-level expertise; preferred qualifications usually include graduate students, master's degree holders, or current/graduated doctoral students in relevant fields. All candidates should have English communication skills in order to use the platform, and specific language requirements may vary by project. The official guidance also encourages people to apply even if they are not sure whether they meet all requirements.
[Applicable scenarios] It is suitable for domain experts who want flexible scheduling and part-time work from home or other locations, such as programming experts, mathematics experts, language experts (official examples include Danish, Dutch, and German language experts), and generalist talent. The official statement says no AI experience is required to participate, and participants can gain side income and enrich their resumes while accumulating hands-on experience in prompt engineering and AI training. The platform supports a referral mechanism; after creating an account, referrals can be made directly from the dashboard.
[Flexibility of work and earnings] The official description lists flexibility as one of its core values: participants can choosethe time, place, and amount of their contributions; earnings are based on the number of hours contributed per week, and there is no minimum working-hour requirement, with the schedule entirely self-determined.
[Reviews and scale] The official page states that more than 900,000 experts have gained hands-on AI experience through Outlier; cumulative payments to experts exceed $500 million; coverage spans 50 countries; more than 700,000 doctoral and master's students have completed onboarding; and on Trustpilot, more than 3,000 experts have given a rating of 4.1/5. The page also displays reviews from multiple experts, covering aspects such as how interesting the work is, learning about a wide range of topics, community support, and flexible work.
[Limitations and information not provided] The official materials do not specify the hourly rate or compensation amount for specific projects, the duration of an individual project (only that project duration depends on client needs), the complete list of specific fields available for participation, the scope of language support beyond English, or the pass rates or assessment details for each project. Identity verification must be completed before participation. The platform is supported by Scale AI.
