Indian workers use head-mounted cameras to train AI for chores, earn Rs 250 hourly

Indian workers are using head-mounted cameras and smartphones to record daily tasks like slicing mangoes and making flower garlands, earning Rs 250 per hour. The footage is sent to an AI data company with offices in India and the United States, which uses it to train robots for real-world tasks, such as navigating homes and factories. A 25-year-old homemaker from Chennai, Nagireddy Sriramyachandra, records household chores while wearing a head-mounted smartphone, capturing first-person video for AI training. She noted the unusual opportunity to earn money for routine work, though she also joked about potentially owning a robot trained by her own efforts. Unlike digital AI models relying on text or images, robots require 'egocentric data'—videos showing human movement, object interaction, and task execution. Workers use head-mounted cameras, motion sensors, and smart glasses to provide this data, which is then processed to improve robotic functionality. India has become a key hub for AI data collection, with thousands of informal workers contributing to the industry. The demand for such services is expected to rise alongside the humanoid robot market, projected to exceed one billion robots by 2050, primarily for industrial and commercial use. However, automation raises concerns among workers like 55-year-old Ponni, a Bengaluru-based flower garland maker who also participates in data collection. She expressed worry about future job security for younger generations in her field, highlighting the broader impact of AI on informal labor. Experts, including Aditi Surie from the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, predict growth in AI-related data services but emphasize the need to address employment risks for India’s nearly 490 million informal workers.