The Shift in AI Data Work: From Gig Platforms to Professional Expertise

['Lakmali Perera', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Vertical-Align Middle .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar Is .Alignleft .Alignright'] Blog — LIRNEasia 2025-09-12 10:07:32

Handshake’s move into AI data work might have seemed like a bold experiment at the time, given that data annotation isn’t exactly PhD material. While it can give a small performance boost, models still need fresh, high-quality real data to advance. So why does all this expert data work matter? Implications for Work and ProfessionsThe biggest shift in AI data work is who’s actually shaping the datasets. Today’s AI data workers are often full-time employees with competitive salaries, better conditions, and clear contracts.