URGENT UPDATE: Mercor is allocating over $1.5 million each day to a vast network of human contractors training artificial intelligence models, CEO Brendan Foody confirmed. This staggering investment highlights the company’s rapid growth as it recently secured funding that values Mercor at $10 billion.
In an exclusive interview on the TBPN show, Foody disclosed that Mercor employs more than 30,000 contractors to support major tech firms like OpenAI and Anthropic. “The company has been growing like crazy,” Foody stated, underscoring the urgency of this new role for human workers.
As the tech industry races to enhance AI capabilities, Mercor is at the forefront of a trend where human trainers are believed to be a game-changer in AI development. Foody elaborated on the role’s significance, describing it as a “new category of work.” He anticipates that “millions of people will spend the next decade teaching machines the judgment, nuance, and taste that only humans possess.”
Foody’s comments come amid an ongoing surge in demand for AI training services. Workers in this field can earn as much as $100 an hour, highlighting the financial opportunities that come with this evolving job landscape. Many contractors engage in diverse tasks, from coaching AI chatbots on cultural nuances to providing expertise in specialized areas such as finance and law.
The recent funding success positions Mercor as a key player in the tech industry’s latest gold rush, where startups connecting human trainers to AI labs are attracting significant investments. Notably, CEOs from these startups, such as Edwin Chen of Surge AI and co-founders of Scale AI, have seen their fortunes skyrocket, with Chen reportedly worth $18 billion.
Looking ahead, Foody hinted at a potential initial public offering (IPO) for Mercor, although he did not provide a timeline. “An IPO is potentially on the horizon,” he stated, indicating that the company is preparing for further growth and expansion.
This surge in human training for AI systems marks a significant shift in the tech landscape, creating new opportunities and challenges for workers. Many freelancers have reported earning substantial incomes, but the work can also be monotonous and chaotic, revealing the dual nature of this burgeoning field.
As Mercor continues to thrive, industry watchers are eager to see how this trend evolves and what it means for the future of both AI and the workforce. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.