How to Get Started and Make Money Training AI
Hi, Si here - the other half of 'Be Nothing Like' - I create content mostly on ways to make money online to help those looking for a freedom life. And I’ve written this post because I really want to help other people explore a new opportunity: how you can find a job with no experience and start to make money online. After many years of being more behind the scenes I'm taking what I know and adding it slowly to the blog here to help people with what I know will become a huge archive of tips and big info on digital nomad life and making that life work (with a family and more mouths to feed).
I’m going to talk you through what I did, but probably more importantly, how I did it. I’m going to share some advice from my own experience and some tips and pointers that can really help you understand the process of actually applying for these types of AI jobs.
We have a whole section on the blog dedicated to helping people become financially free. Because money matters. And all the ways to earn money online whether that's wanting to start earning from blogging, to starting a YouTube channel to become monetizsed. To earn a little bit of side income alongside your regular job or to fully change careers into the exciting and location freedom based earning online (see more about our Bali Life - building a villa, with kids, wanting more freedom). In this blog post I share How to get strarted in a role that involves training up AI - which can be learnt as a beginner - and applied for (even without experience) and I share everything that I did that got me earning an extra cash in AI. And if you're interested in how I went from zero to £2k a month in AI in just a few weeks (literally), then you'll enjoy my complete section on the blog fully dedicated to Jobs in AI (with no experience).
And we always get asked how we make this life 'work'. We're not from a wealthy family. We don't have huge savings. We have to work. It's just the kinds of work we do is remote, meaning we don't have to be in a fixed location or office - which basically free's us up to have more family time. Our work times are not rigid. And now we're established with amny different types of income - we're earning more than we could have possibly ever imagined in a basic job.
And what we found when we first started this nomad life was that everybody seemed to gatekeep this info as 'secret' unless of course they were tyring to sell you a 'course' on digital marketing or MLM etc. Which we have done many and paid for many courses and wasted so much money on them - and so we wanted to offer the real side of earning real money that everybody / anybody can do. Literally free information on our blog that will help people. An if you find this info helpful - drop us a comment - it's good to know that spending 10 hours writing a blog post - actually reaches the right people.
This is a big one so I recommend grabbing a coffee and letting all this info sink in, absorb. Read it many times, explore the links I add and defo let me know if it helped you. I plan to do many deep dives on each of the ways we earn to make this dream life happen. There's a lot of info below but it's a definite way to make income. Real ways of earning online - So, let's jump into todays AI training jobs deep dive blog post...
What do you actually do when you get AI training jobs?
When I started out, it all seemed so alien and to be honest with you I didn’t really understand what these jobs actually were, and the process is very different to applying for a ‘normal’ job, especially if, like me you haven’t applied for a job in a while.
I started looking for remote work after finding myself in a bit of a situation. It looked like an amazing, idyllic situation, our life in Bali, but behind it all, TBH, it was becoming a bit of a struggle for me personally. We left the UK as a family and moved abroad because we wanted a better life. [Read more about our story moving from UK to Bali with kids here] We wanted more of a freedom life and we wanted to live better, but this life still costs money. Savings don't last long and you'll want to have remote work to earn with.
To pay for all of this, I had been working remotely on a contract/freelance basis in the crypto space. I had a few different income streams, such as Ambassador roles, Content Creation roles and also working for a brand where I was onboarding new users. This was going well, I was enjoying the work and although a little bit inconsistent I was earning. I had built myself a bit of a profile in the space and I was creating content that was educating people on things like crypto, blockchain and web3.
Then it all changed. The market crashed and it felt like everyone pulled down the shutters. Pretty much overnight, things went from being full-on, busy and hectic to being ignored, ghosted and, worst of all, not paid.
We'd also experienced a few personal scams which hurt like mad, but really hurt the savings. A few personal tests and lessons regarding trusting people and I'm not ashamed to say, I was struggling.
So, this really did leave me high and dry. I started having to live off savings, and it’s amazing how quickly money runs out. One other thing you learn from this situation, is that money definitely goes out faster than it comes in when you're living this travel life and you have a family.
So I started looking online. I needed a remote job and FAST.
I needed a job that I could start quickly. I had skills, but these are skills that can be a little hard to quantify. I do find that hen you have run your own business/worked for yourself it can be difficult to move back into more traditional jobs, it feels like employers want people who have been employed……. Maybe they think that we are all too mad. So, because of this, I’m also always prepared to start from the bottom and do whatever it takes, so I was also looking at advertisements for jobs with no experience required.
When your back is against the wall, you’ve got to be prepared to do what it takes and do you know what, I do that. Sometimes you can’t let your own pride get in the way.
As I was searching, I saw adverts for things like AI jobs UK, Get paid to train AI, Training AI jobs, Remote AI jobs, etc., etc. So I started to look into these some more and see if there was actually a way to make money online, working from your own home, or wherever you are and working the hours you want to work.
So, that’s what this post is about. I’m going to show you what these jobs involve, what you can potentially earn, where to find them and how to apply. I’ll also explain what actually happens when you get accepted, because that’s the bit I really wanted to understand when I started out. So, I’m going to share it with you, it’s not going to be a flashy post where I shill you ways to earn a fortune from sitting on your couch……. It’s an honest post that I really hope will help someone understand the work, follow the application process and hopefully get you some work.
And the reason WHY I'm sharing all this is because it IS a genuine way to start earning online. I've tried them all: Print on Demand, Physical Bricks & Mortar Shop, Online Shopify Webstore selling physical products, You name it - I've done it. Some with success. Some not so. And this is one area that I know and can share with postive results. Also it's one of the main ways I'm earning right now. Use my quick contents guide below to jumop to the relevant section for where you're at:
Table of Contents for How to Begin Making Money Training Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Remote Work Opportunity
AI Jobs With No Experience: How to Get Started and Make Money Training AI
What Are AI Jobs?
When people talk about AI jobs, they often think of super tech people, like software engineers, machine learning specialists and people building the next generation of artificial intelligence. But those aren't the only jobs in the AI industry.
The irony is that even though AI is rapidly taking over people, AI systems also still need people to assess their responses, label data, review videos and audio, check accuracy and provide feedback that helps improve their performance. This is where AI training and evaluation jobs come in.
Some of these roles require specialist technical skills/knowledge, but others rely more on attention to detail, language skills, common sense and the ability to follow detailed instructions.
That's the side of the AI jobs market I'm exploring in this guide: practical, often remote opportunities that you may be able to get into without previous experience.
Can You Really Get AI Jobs With No Experience?
AI is a great tool. It’s amazing and makes your life easier, whether you’re just looking for how to boil an egg or writing a marketing plan for a business. It’s a massive part of everyday life. Quite often you might not even know that you are using AI. Chatbots, online searches and more are all relying on AI……. and the crazy thing is, it’s only going to become a bigger part of our lives.
Some people think it’s going to take over the world and put us all out of jobs, causing the end of humanity, but that’s probably something to discuss in a different post.
Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that something this big, this widely used and also this new does actually present an opportunity, the tech is still learning and it needs to learn from people.
AI systems are developed and improved using data, testing and feedback from real people. People like me, people like you.
Now, if I was to say to you that you could get a job training AI, you would probably think that you need all sorts of tech knowledge, how to code, how to programme, how to build complex digital systems…
That’s what I thought, but no.
This is the difference between building AI and helping to train and evaluate AI.
There’s actually a whole section of AI work that involves people with basic, everyday skills, such as listening and taking notes, watching and correcting, checking spelling, recognising sounds, etc., etc.
So, the experience that you need isn’t necessarily something like a degree or three years in high-level banking. It can be the things that you do in your everyday life. AI needs to understand how to respond to everyday people.
This is what is known as helping to train and evaluate AI. And yes, there are roles where you can apply without previous experience working in AI.
That doesn’t mean every role is suitable for beginners, or that you’ll automatically get accepted. Some require specific qualifications, experience or subject knowledge. But you don’t necessarily need to be a programmer or an AI expert to get started.
And that’s what makes this interesting.
What Types of Jobs Can You Do in AI Without Experience?
When you start to look into jobs in AI, there’s a whole host of sites and agencies with listings for jobs and opportunities and it can look pretty overwhelming.
Now, a lot of these jobs do require specific skills, knowledge, qualifications or backgrounds, but I’m going to talk you through the most common ones that I have applied for, got, started work on and, yes, OMG, actually been paid real cash money into my bank for. Work that you can do without any previous AI training or experience.
So, how can you be the person to train AI, without any knowledge, or experience.
To explain simply, first it’s good to understand more about what AI training is. Let’s take something like ChatGPT. You ask it a question, it draws on what it has learned and gives you an answer. You can then ask it to clarify, to expand, to find you examples, like you ask it how to cook an omelette, this is a you giving AI a prompt, then you might ask it to give you a recipe, to show you how to do it, etc., etc. This is all you giving AI a prompt, then AI is giving you a response.
You might think that’s all pretty straightforward, but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes.
AI systems need to interpret what you’re asking, understand the words you’re using and, in some cases, if for example you show it a picture of an amazing looking omelette and ask it “How do I make this” the AI needs to make sense of pictures, and sometimes audio and video prompts. Put simply, It needs to understand what you are asking it.
This is much more complex than it sounds.
Think of it like this. What if someone asks you a question, but they’re not from your local area? They talk differently.
I’m from Manchester originally, and if a Scouser (someone from Liverpool), maybe only 30 miles down the road from where I grew up, asks me for directions to the hospital, he might say something like:
“Alright Der la, where’s the Ozzy round ere like? It’s proper baltic and me nans ere and she’s not feeling well”.
If I said this, being the man that I am, I would say.
“Eyar mate, where’s the nearest hospital, my grannies with me and she’s feeling a bit rough”
If I say that in “proper” English, it would mean:
“Excuse me sir, could you direct me to the hospital? My grandmother here is not feeling very well”.
This is three different ways of saying the same question, and AI needs to learn things like this.
So, it’s the nuances, the human things, that AI systems need to learn to recognise and interpret. And the best people to help with this aren’t necessarily computer coders. They can be real people who understand language, context and the way people actually communicate.
This is a specific example, but some tasks are much simpler. Some projects might just need you to identify what fruit is in a picture, or whether someone coughed or laughed when they asked a question.
There are different types of work involved, and you don’t need the same skills for every role.
As more and more companies race to include AI in things like online chatbots, booking holidays, customer support and all sorts of other services, there is a need to test and improve how these systems perform.
That’s where these jobs and maybe you, come in.
Data Annotation (What is it?)
This is basically helping AI understand data by labelling, categorising or checking it. That might mean looking at images, reading text or checking other types of information and correcting what the system has interpreted.
[Read my full guide to Data Annotation →]
Voice Annotation (What is it?)
This involves working with spoken or recorded audio, things like transcribing speech, identifying sounds. So you might be listening to recordings of people speaking and checking pronunciation, or sometimes even recording your own voice.
[Read my full guide to Voice Annotation →]
Video Annotation (What is it?)
Video annotation is about helping AI understand what is happening in a video. Something as simple as watching a video and you might identify objects, actions or specific moments in a piece of footage.
[Read my full guide to Video Annotation →]
AI Generalist (Erm What's that?)
This is a much broader type of AI work. Depending on the project, you could be researching, checking information, comparing AI responses or completing different tasks to help improve AI systems.
[Read my full guide to AI Generalist Jobs →]
AI Evaluation
Here you’re essentially checking how well AI is performing. You might compare two answers, check whether something is accurate or decide which response is better and why.
[Read my full guide to AI Evaluation Jobs →]
The important thing to understand is that you don’t necessarily need to be a programmer or AI expert to do this type of work. A lot of it comes down to skills you probably already use every day: reading, listening, watching, thinking, spotting mistakes and following instructions carefully.
How Much Can You Earn From AI Training Jobs?
Pay can vary a lot, and it can also be paid in a few different ways, so I’ll break them down for you.
One thing I want to make clear from the start: the figures below are based on my own experience with specific projects. They’re not a promise of what you will earn, and the actual rate you achieve depends on the project, the work available and how quickly and accurately you can complete it.
Pay Per Task
This is where you are given a set task to do and you complete it. Once the task is complete, your work is accepted and you become eligible for payment under that project’s terms.
This can work out well, but it’s always good to complete a few tasks, work out how much the task pays and how long it takes, then divide this to find your effective hourly rate.
For example, if a task pays $100 and typically takes you two hours, then your effective rate is $50 per hour.
I always check this to make sure I am working on the best-paying task.
Pay Per Hour
You are given a set amount of work to do and you work through it. You are then paid an hourly rate, subject to the project’s terms and requirements.
Work like this is often monitored, using a system like Hubstaff. You have a Hubstaff account on your device, and depending on how the project has configured it, it can record working time, activity and screenshots.
So, basically, it can help the company check that you are working on what you are being paid to work on, rather than scrolling social media or watching Netflix all day.
You may also be measured against productivity targets to ensure that you are completing a reasonable amount of work.
It’s worth checking what monitoring is used before you start, so you understand what you’re agreeing to.
Pay Per Hour of Completed Media
This is a little different, and it took me a bit of working out to get my head around, so I’ll save you all of my working out and explain it to you.
This can happen a lot with roles like voice annotation.
For example, you have a batch of what are called data rows. For voice annotation, this could be a series of clips of different people speaking. Your job is to transcribe what they say and add in any coughs, laughs, etc.
This is the media.
The pay rate is $100 per hour of completed media.
So, if you complete a clip that is 30 seconds long, you have completed 30 seconds of media.
If you complete two clips at 30 seconds long, you have completed one minute of media.
If you complete 120 clips at 30 seconds long, you have completed one hour of media.
Now, this is something that I have learned. What is important to bear in mind is that 30 seconds’ worth of media will take you more than 30 seconds to annotate, as you have to listen, re-listen, transcribe, etc., and make sure it is right.
So, the important thing when you are working out the pay rate is how long each media clip is taking you, not necessarily how long the media clip is.
Also, a lot of sets of data rows have media clips of varying lengths, so it can be tricky to work out.
It’s useful to break down how much the rate is per second of media.
For example, on the $100-per-hour-of-media rate:
$100 ÷ 60 minutes = approximately $1.67 per minute of completed media.
$100 ÷ 3,600 seconds = approximately $0.0278 per second of completed media.
This tells you how much the completed media is worth, but what I like to know is what I can get paid for the actual work done.
So, I like to work on it for an hour, taking note of how many seconds of completed media I complete.
I do this for a full hour.
Then, after one hour, I can total this up, which gives me the total amount of media seconds I have completed in one hour.
I can then multiply that by my per-second figure and get an estimate of how much I am earning per hour of actual work.
This is the figure that really matters when you’re comparing projects.
It’s also important to note that once you complete work and submit it, it is usually reviewed and can be sent back for changes, amendments or rework. Depending on the project’s payment rules, you may only be paid for work that is accepted, so you can’t just submit your work and get paid, you do have to keep an eye out for reviews of your work and make the recommended changes. Another little tip is to do this regularly and consistently.
This can be frustrating, especially at first, but the best advice I can give you is to learn from the feedback you are given and improve. That way, you can focus on completing more work, as opposed to reworking tasks you have already done.
Which leads into the next topic.
Do AI Jobs Pay Differently Depending on Where You Live?
Pay rates can vary, and it’s also important to remember that some roles have location-based pay rates.
The location rules differ between platforms and projects. They may depend on where you live, your eligibility to work in a particular country or the location requirements set by the client. You should always check the specific requirements rather than assume that one rule applies to every platform.
Some roles also offer progression, so the more work you complete successfully and to the required standard, the opportunity may be there to increase your pay.
My Real-World AI Job Pay Examples
As a guide, here are the pay rates for some roles that I have done recently. And a breakdown of what I earned on those AI roles.
Voice annotation
I started at $111 per hour of completed media, and the rate rose to $132 per hour of completed media.
To make this more relevant, as a guide, it was taking me between five and six hours to complete an hour’s worth of media.
That meant an effective rate of roughly $18.50–$26.40 per hour of actual work (approximately £14–£20 / €16–€23), depending on the rate and how long it took me.
Voice annotation — pay per task
I started at $24 per completed task, and the rate rose to $28.25 per completed task.
As a guide, the time to complete a task varied between one and three hours, so the effective rate could range from around $8 to $28.25 per hour (approximately £6–£21 / €7–€24 per hour).
Video annotation
The rate was $50 per hour for the project I worked on (approximately £37 / €43).
The important thing with this example is to check exactly what the advertised rate refers to, as a rate per working hour and a rate based on completed media are not the same thing.
These are examples from my own experience, not typical earnings or a guarantee of what you’ll make.
It’s important to bear in mind that no work is guaranteed, and availability can vary a lot.
[Read this section to learn how much AI work is actually available →]
Pay terms can also vary per project. Some pay weekly, some pay monthly and some have different payment schedules.
Do AI Jobs Provide Training? What Training Will I Get?
Yes, once you have gone through the application steps and sometimes passed an assessment, there’s usually some form of training to work through.
There can be an assessment as part of the application process, and this is usually based on, or a simpler version of, the actual work, so you know what you are doing and what standards to achieve.
The type and quality of the training can vary a lot depending on the project and the particular role that you are doing.
It is usually in the form of self-learning, using resources such as instruction guides, videos or collaborative spaces like Discord and Slack.
I’ve picked up lots of useful and practical hacks that I employ here, such as how you can use AI to help you understand the project, so read that post here.
[Read my guide to using AI to understand project instructions →]
A lot of the work is completed by following set instructions, known as a rubric, so it is mostly about learning, following and applying a set of rules, alongside using your judgement, whether it’s what you see, hear, read or write, to match the rubric.
One of the best pieces of advice I can give you is: Don’t ever feel like you won’t be able to learn the required skills.
The instructions and the tasks can seem overwhelming at first. There have been plenty of times when I’ve started the onboarding, read through the instructions and been like, “WTF is this talking about?”
But after taking some time, reading, understanding and learning, things always become clearer.
I’m of the firm belief that everything is learnable.
Training and assessment time can sometimes be paid, but be prepared for it not to be. Always check the project’s payment terms before committing time to training.
Where Can I Find These Remote A.I. Roles & Jobs?
Where Can You Find Remote AI Jobs?
There’s a whole host of sites out there. Some are the most well-known ones, and I do find that these can be super busy with applicants and that it can feel like your application and profile can simply just get lost.
Based on the number of applicants, these vacancies can also be much more competitive, and it can feel a bit harder to break into them if you don’t already have experience and a strong profile where you have already found work through their platform.
So, I have compiled my list of the sites that I have personally used, found work with and/or set up a profile on, had interviews with and have roles in the pipeline with. Now, please note, these are my personal referral links. For some of these I do get a referral fee, just to be honest, if you’ve found this post at all helpful, them feel free to use these links.
My top pick
This is a great role, although it is only for people that own an Apple Macbook, so only apply if you do.
What I like about this role is that it gives you the chance to share your own area of expertise. Whatever that is. The task is taking screen recordings for you completing a task within your own field. Now, you don’t have to be anything complex like a brain surgeon. You can share yourself editing a video, creating a logo etc etc. Just using the apps you use everyday.
You just need to be confident doing and talking at the same time.
And it pays a min of $40 per hour, up to $80 dollars per hour. It’s onboarding now, so get your applications in.
Micro 1
There’s a wide range of vacancies on here, from more general roles including voice annotation, video annotation and many more, right through to specialist roles.
What I really like about micro1 is that a number of roles offer detailed feedback from your interviews so you can learn and improve your technique.
Mercor
Lots of jobs that require no experience on here. With Generalist roles that are really god to apply for, as well as the language expert and quality analyst roles. There’s also some super interesting roles where you can earn by capturing footage on your smart phones and other devices.
Meridial
I’ve added some examples of some specific roles that are good to apply to on this site, the titles are a little more ambiguous on here, but these are my picks of the AI roles that can be applied for with no specific experience.
Language Specialist – AI Language Evaluation
Review AI-generated text and audio to check that the language is accurate, natural and culturally appropriate, with a focus on specific regional dialects, accents and local expressions. Apply here →
Side by Side Quality Evaluator – English
Compare responses from different AI models, judge which provides the best answer based on factors such as accuracy, clarity and following instructions, and explain your decisions in writing. Apply here →
Ethos
One of the newer sites for AI roles. The process is a little different on here. You start the application process then have a conversation with the AI assistant who matches you to roles. One super cool feature is that after your conversation with the AI assistant, it makes suggestions on how you can improve your profile.
My advice is to look at more than one platform. Don’t assume that because one site has no work available, there’s nothing out there.
Also, be careful about scams. You shouldn’t have to pay someone a recruitment fee just to get access to a job. Check that you are using the genuine platform, read the payment terms and be cautious if someone asks you to send money to secure work.
How Do You Apply for AI Jobs?
The application process when you are applying for AI jobs in the UK and beyond is a little different to the normal, as a lot of these AI companies use… yeah, you guessed it, AI in the application process.
The flow of the application process is pretty much the same across many of the platforms, although the exact steps and order can vary.
So, what can you expect when you apply for an AI job?
Your CV and Profile
First up, you will create an account and build your profile.
Some of the sites ask questions, whilst the majority can actually parse your CV for all of the information. So, make sure that you have an up-to-date CV.
There are more hints and tips on how to optimise your CV below.
The AI system may automatically complete the various sections in your profile based on your CV. It should also give you the opportunity to double-check for mistakes and errors, so just be sure to go through everything carefully.
A lot of these sites have a few sections where you can add your specific skills. This can be in the form of a dropdown, checkboxes or even free-text boxes.
They can also be pre-populated, so the AI system will read your CV and preselect what it thinks are the best fits.
This is a section that can be easy to gloss over and rush through, but it pays to take a little time here.
Some of the wording can be a little ambiguous, so I recommend using the tools available to you, such as AI, to find out what a skill means.
I have put my CV into ChatGPT, along with the available list of skills, and asked it to tell me which ones I matched, with an explanation.
I was actually quite surprised that I had more skills than I thought, as some skills that sound super technical are actually skills and tasks that you might be doing day in, day out, without even realising.
Just make sure you can honestly demonstrate the skills you select.
Some sites also allow you the option to add a LinkedIn profile, a portfolio of work, etc., so I always recommend adding as much relevant information as possible.
AI Screening
Your CV, profile and any additional questions that you answer may be screened by AI, so don’t assume that your application will be read by a human at this point.
I have found that tailoring your CV to the job description can help make your relevant skills and experience clearer, although this is not an exact science and it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll pass the screening.
If your application passes the initial screening, you may move on to the next stage.
Assessments
These sections can vary in order, depending on the role, so they can be interchangeable.
After initial screening, you will usually be invited to take a series of assessments. These can also include training.
I have found that one common format is a series of training modules that teach you the actual requirements of the role, or at least a simplified version of it.
They can take the form of quizzes, multiple-choice questions or an online workbook. They can also be in stages, where passing one stage opens up the next.
The best piece of advice I can give you here is to take your time, really read the instructions and make sure you understand the questions and the requirements.
I have been guilty of jumping in when I thought I knew the answer, then kicking myself after making what was a pretty stupid and needless mistake.
Take your time. Read the instructions. Don’t assume you know what they’re asking just because the task looks simple.
The Interview: What Is an AI Interview?
I’m going to tell you this now. Your first AI interview will feel strange. Very strange.
You are basically being interviewed by an AI system. It’s like having a Zoom, Teams or Google Meet call, but with AI, so this is something that you have to get your head around.
Some of the platforms have ones that work very well; some still need improvement.
The best way to approach this is like a standard interview. Listen to the question, answer it in a clear and concise way, and give relevant examples.
The AI can be pretty smart here and may even give you feedback on some of your answers.
One thing I have noticed with some of these roles is that sometimes the questions you are asked can seem a little strange, almost completely unrelated to the role. I have also had this at assessment stage.
For example, I have had an interview for a voice annotation role where the AI started asking me, “How, as a project manager, would I respond to a client who wanted to change the standards around timescales and benchmarking the quality of responses?”
Which wasn’t really the role I was going for. I mean, if you want to pay me to run the entire programme, I’ll happily do it ;o).
Another example is when I was applying for a video annotation role and had to complete a bilingual interview, even though other videos were silent and no language was needed.
I hope AI was impressed by me remembering how to say “my ball pen is broken”, as that’s all I remembered from my school German class.
If this happens, the best thing I find is to answer as well as you can, not let it throw you off guard and carry on.
I did have a sneaky suspicion that this could be some sort of recruiter test where they are actually trying to see how you work under pressure and adapt to situations, but I’m not so sure.
Whatever the reason, don’t let one strange question throw you off.
Just do your best and move on.
Verification: Why Do AI Companies Need Your ID?
As part of the application process, you may be required to complete ID verification. This helps the platform confirm your identity and may form part of its checks around your eligibility to work on a project.
Some projects also have country-specific requirements, and platforms may ask for information about your location or tax details separately.
This is often known as Know Your Customer, or KYC.
Verification is usually completed on an external site that specialises in identity checks. If you are applying on a desktop, you may be able to click a link or scan a QR code with your phone.
The process is usually quite simple. Take a photo of your ID, which could be a passport, driving licence or another accepted government ID. Then you take a selfie and follow the on-screen instructions.
This can be a little tricky to get right. The photos of the ID are usually the issue, as they have to be clear and glare can reflect off the surface and obscure details.
So, the best thing to do is take them in good natural light, without direct sunlight or glare, and make sure all the details are clear.
I have actually had some verifications fail, which is super frustrating. Depending on the provider, you may have limited options for getting the decision reviewed, so just be aware of this.
As I mentioned earlier, some roles have location-based eligibility or pay. Make sure you provide accurate information and check the requirements for the role. Your ID verification doesn’t automatically establish your tax residence, and trying to get around the rules can cause problems further down the line.
Onboarding
Once you have passed all of the steps and you are successful, you are then ready for onboarding.
The format of this depends on the role, whether you have taken any training as part of the assessment and also the specific client.
I have gone through onboarding that has been quite simple, with more on-the-job training. I have also had onboarding that was a bit more tricky.
Some require you to sign up to other platforms to access the actual work. This is perfectly normal, but it can cause issues as you try and sync everything up.
Some examples of other platforms that can be used are:
Discord – A place to join project communities, receive updates and ask questions. I have worked on projects where Discord is kind of like the project hub, with instructions, updates and support.
Slack – A messaging platform where project teams communicate and share information, again used in a similar way to Discord.
Hubstaff – A time-tracking tool used by some projects to record working hours. Depending on the project’s settings, it can also monitor activity and take screenshots, so check what is being tracked.
Horizon – A task platform where you access and complete AI annotation work.
Labelbox – A platform used for data labelling and annotation tasks that can help train and evaluate AI systems.
These are just some examples. Different projects use different tools, so don’t worry if you haven’t used them before. You’ll usually be given instructions on what you need to do.
How to Make Your CV Work for AI Jobs
When you are applying for AI jobs in the UK or any other country, your CV still does a lot of the work, so it really pays to create a CV specific to AI work.
The aim here is to make your CV as relevant as possible to the role and easy for the screening system to understand.
Usually, you will be uploading a CV to the specific AI company’s site to create your profile during the application process.
[Read more about applying for AI jobs here →]
When you upload your CV to a site, there’s usually more than one role you want to apply for, so you do need to make your CV a fit for a range of roles, as opposed to one single role.
That’s unless you are applying for a very specific role that is super niche and relevant to your experience, degree or speciality. In that case, you would really tailor your CV to match it.
So, what you need to do is match your CV to what they are looking for, whilst still being honest about your skills.
These are the types of skills that are worth highlighting on your CV when applying for AI jobs. You won’t need every single one for every role, so focus on the ones you genuinely have.
Attention to Detail – Spotting mistakes, inconsistencies and small differences.
Following Instructions – Understanding and applying detailed guidelines accurately.
Written Communication – Writing clearly, explaining decisions and understanding written information.
Critical Thinking – Analysing information, questioning assumptions and making sound judgements.
Research and Fact-Checking – Finding information and checking whether it is accurate and reliable.
Analytical Skills – Comparing information, identifying patterns and evaluating results.
Quality Assurance – Checking work against specific standards and identifying errors.
Language and Grammar – Understanding spelling, punctuation, sentence structure and natural language.
Listening Skills – Recognising speech, accents, pronunciation and other sounds in audio tasks.
Problem-Solving – Working through unfamiliar tasks and finding solutions.
Consistency and Accuracy – Applying the same rules and standards across repeated tasks.
Time Management – Organising your workload and meeting deadlines independently.
Adaptability – Learning new tools, understanding new guidelines and adjusting to different projects.
Digital Literacy – Using computers, online platforms and digital tools confidently.
You may also have specialist skills that are useful for particular projects, such as coding, translation, knowledge of a specific industry or subject, or experience in voice recording and content creation. So, be sure to add these for specific roles.
You can usually update your CV, so if a new role pops up that you have the skills for, you can update your CV and profile.
As a tip, also double-check that if you add any skills or relevant experience to your CV, you add them to your LinkedIn profile too.
Once you have started working on any of the AI roles, be sure to add this experience to your CV and work history too. Having relevant experience is like gold when you are applying for more AI work.
Just remember, don’t make things up or add skills you can’t demonstrate. You want your CV to get you through the door, but you also need to be able to do the job.
Here’s another hit tip. When you get your first AI job, be sure to update your CV to show this. Then re upload the new CV to all of the other AI sites you are on, because then you immediately go from being someone with no AI experience, to someone that has experience training AI and this makes you more attractive and should mean more opportunities.
What Does an AI Training Job Actually Look Like?
The honest answer is that it can, and has, looked like me sat in my underpants on my laptop, in the dark at 3am. But I know that’s not the image that you are here for, so lets look at this in a more attractive way.
Location-wise, it can look like anywhere, which is amazing. I’ve also worked AI jobs whilst travelling, and the proof is below.
But what does the actual AI work look like ? What are you actually doing ?
These jobs require you to have your own laptop/desktop computer and TBH can’t really be done on things like iPads, or phones.
Usually, you will be logging onto a specific workspace, with its own User Interface (UI), that can sometimes be hosted on a site like Labelbox.
Let’s take a voice annotation type role as an example.
I log on and check the site for available tasks in the various projects that I have been approved for.
When there’s work in, I click through and just start work.
On some projects, the Hubstaff timer pops up and I press start to record my working time.
On a voice annotation site, I have a set of voice recordings to listen to. There’s a waveform showing the audio and a transcript above it, and at the bottom is where I check and correct the information.
I listen to the audio and correct it where required. I also have a set of hotkeys that I can use to tag parts of the audio, like laughter, coughs, etc.
This is the work in simple terms. There’s much more to it than that, like limits on how tight the wording boundaries have to be, what sound is tagged and what the sound is tagged as, etc., etc.
I complete the data row, which is the full set of clips.
Then I submit the work.
I have a dashboard showing my completed tasks, whether they have been reviewed and, if so, whether the review was successful or whether I need to amend the work as a rework.
Some projects vary. Some are more complex, some are simpler, but there’s usually a UI to navigate that is designed to help you complete the work.
The main thing with these is getting to understand the screen, how it works, reading the instructions and understanding the workflow.
Once you get into the flow, the process starts to make a lot more sense.
How Much AI Work Is Actually Available?
There are some super-important things to think about when you are looking at AI jobs, and this is my advice to you. Honestly, it’s good advice.
I know this because I’m doing it, so I know what the potential is. I also see people making the same mistakes over and over again.
If you follow this advice, then you put yourself in a better position to make the most of the opportunities that come your way.
Like a lot of things in life, you get out what you put in.
This isn’t like a normal job where you work 9–5, Monday to Friday, and you get paid for doing the same job you’ve done for five years.
You are, in effect, working on a freelance or contract basis for many of these opportunities, so it’s up to you how much you work when work is available.
Now, I work hard. If I have work, then I crack on. I work hard and I try to work fast, but accurately. It’s all about hitting that sweet spot.
AI work can be inconsistent. You can do all of the steps, have an interview, get accepted, be onboarded to a project and then it can stop all of a sudden.
So, if there’s work available and you want to work, then take it. Do it. Make the most of the opportunities.
Work can also come in batches, so it can be very much feast or famine.
If I am treating AI work as my priority, I check it first thing and then periodically during the day. I’m flexible enough that if work comes in, I jump on it and work as much as possible.
The good thing about this is that if you have work and you want to work hard, you can really maximise the opportunity.
If the work’s there, you can work early mornings, late nights… all through the night if you want. I am not ashamed to say I have done this, as if there’s an opportunity and you have time free, I say go for it.
On the flip side, if you just want to earn a bit of extra cash, you can dip in and dip out.
But there’s a big difference between having access to a project and having a guaranteed supply of paid work.
You can be accepted by a platform and still have no tasks available. A project can pause, the requirements can change or the client can simply stop needing the work.
That’s why I wouldn’t rely on one platform or assume that getting accepted means you’ll have a regular income.
Why I Work Across Multiple Platforms
Because the work can be unpredictable, I like to always try and maintain my potential.
What do I mean by this?
I can’t stress enough that this work is unpredictable. A project can be paused or stopped at any time, for so many reasons: clients changing their minds, technical issues and much more.
So, because of this, you need to play the long game and don’t fall in love with a project.
I like to always be applying for new roles. I make a point of periodically checking the sites that I am registered with for any new vacancies that I would be suitable for, and I apply for them.
For me, it’s all about building a pipeline.
I want to work, I want to earn and so I want to give myself the best opportunity to do so. That means having choices.
You will find that some of the AI work is more enjoyable than others. It’s good when you get into a flow and you can work, when you understand the pay and you know what you are earning.
So, it’s nice when you can actually choose to work on a project because you enjoy it.
Do I always aim to have a choice of projects? Absolutely.
I’d much rather have several potential opportunities than be completely dependent on one project that could disappear tomorrow.
Can You Work Remote AI Jobs From Anywhere?
The beauty of these AI roles is that they are remote, so they are listed as remote AI jobs. However, there are some important caveats to look into.
Some roles are location-specific, so they require you to be based in a particular country and, in some cases, to actually be physically in that country when you are completing the work.
So, they are very much AI jobs UK, or UK-based AI jobs.
This is usually stated in the job description, so you have to be aware of it.
I live and work as a digital nomad, so I like to try and have some work that I can complete wherever I am. If I am heading back to the UK for a period of time, I will apply for some of those AI jobs in the UK and try to line them up for the time when I am there.
Now, I’m sure many of you are thinking, can’t I just use a VPN?
If you don’t know what a VPN is, it stands for Virtual Private Network.
In simple terms, it can route your internet connection through a server in another country, making it look to websites as though you’re connecting from there rather than your actual location.
So, for example, if you’re living in Bali but connect through a UK VPN server, a website might see a UK IP address rather than an Indonesian one.
Sounds like a clever workaround, right?
Well, not necessarily.
AI platforms can use other checks to verify where you’re actually based, and using a VPN to get around their location restrictions could lead to your account being flagged, suspended or closed.
Some platforms also have specific rules about VPN use, so always check their terms before you start.
A VPN doesn’t change where you actually live or whether you meet the eligibility requirements for a role. It’s much better to check the rules and find work you can legitimately do from wherever you are.
Can You Make a Full-Time Income From AI Jobs?
In theory, yes, you can, and potentially a pretty decent income, but… and this is a big but… it all depends on the availability of work.
If there’s work available and you work hard, then yes, you can make a decent living. But you can have an amazing week one week and then nothing the week after.
So, this is the tricky part.
If you follow the advice above, then this is what puts you in the best possible position and gives you the potential to earn well.
So, it is good to look at AI jobs as additional work, supplementary income and something that has the potential to replace other work over time.
But I wouldn’t make plans based on the assumption that the work will always be there.
You can make good money, but it can be inconsistent.
For me, the attraction is that I can work remotely, take on different projects and have some flexibility over when I work. The downside is that I have to keep looking for opportunities and be prepared for the work to change.
That’s the trade-off.
Who Are AI Training Jobs Best Suited To?
Good fit if you:
Like working independently.
Have good attention to detail.
Are comfortable with computers.
Can follow detailed instructions.
Have good English.
Can think critically.
Don’t mind repetitive work.
Probably not for you if:
You need guaranteed hours.
You hate repetitive tasks.
You need constant management.
You want predictable monthly income immediately.
There’s no point pretending that every part of this work is exciting. Some tasks are repetitive, some instructions can be confusing and some projects can be frustrating.
But if you enjoy working independently, learning new things and having the flexibility to work remotely, it’s definitely something worth exploring.
Getting Started: What I Would Do First
If I was starting again from scratch, this is what I would do.
Get your CV ready. Focus on the skills you already have, such as attention to detail, communication, research, accuracy and following instructions. You don’t need to pretend to be an AI expert.
Research the different types of AI jobs. Understand the difference between data annotation, voice annotation, video annotation, AI generalist work and AI evaluation.
Register with several platforms. Don’t rely on just one. Check their eligibility requirements and make sure the work is available to people in your location.
Take your time with applications and assessments. Read the instructions properly. Don’t rush through them and make avoidable mistakes.
Keep track of the work you do. Record the rates, how long tasks take, what gets accepted and what needs reworking. This will help you work out what is actually worth your time.
Keep applying. Even when you get accepted for a project, continue looking for other opportunities. Work can stop with very little warning.
And most importantly, be realistic. You might get accepted straight away, or you might have to apply to several platforms before you find something that works for you.
There is no guarantee of work or income, but you can improve your chances by being organised, learning from your mistakes and keeping your options open.
Frequently Asked Questions About AI Jobs
Can I Get an AI Job With No Experience?
Yes, some AI training, data annotation and evaluation roles accept applicants without previous AI industry experience. You’ll still need to meet the platform’s eligibility requirements and pass any relevant assessments.
Are There Remote AI Jobs for Beginners?
Yes, some companies offer remote AI training and evaluation work. However, availability varies by country, project and skill requirements, and not every role is open worldwide.
Do AI Training Jobs Pay?
Yes, many platforms pay contributors for completing approved tasks or other defined units of work. Rates and payment structures vary, so it’s important to understand how long tasks take and how much work is actually available.
Where Can I Apply for AI Jobs?
You can find opportunities through AI training platforms, data annotation companies and specialist remote job boards. Always check the current eligibility requirements and research the platform before sharing personal information.
Final Thoughts: Is Training AI Worth Exploring?
I started looking into AI jobs as a way to supplement my other income and because I wanted a role that still gave me freedom.
I want to work remotely. I want to be able to work from different places, spend time with my family and have more control over how I live my life.
That’s why this appealed to me.
I’m not going to tell you that training AI is some magic answer to making money online. It isn’t. You have to apply, learn the systems, complete the work to the required standard and deal with the fact that opportunities can come and go.
But what I have found is that there are opportunities out there that I didn’t even know existed before I started looking.
I didn’t need to become a programmer. I didn’t need to go back to university. I needed to understand what the work involved, identify the roles that matched my skills and be prepared to learn.
And yes, I have actually been paid for doing it.
If you’re looking for a way to make money online, whether that’s to earn some extra cash, build a new income stream or potentially replace other work, then I think it’s worth exploring.
Just go into it with your eyes open. Don’t rely on one platform, don’t assume that acceptance means guaranteed work, and don’t be afraid to start with something new.
Sometimes, you just need to find a different way of doing things.
For me, this is about more than just getting a job. It’s about creating choices and having the freedom to build a life that works for you.
And that’s what I’m trying to do.
If you’re just getting started, have a look at my guides to the different types of AI jobs and the platforms I’ve used. I’ll keep sharing what I learn along the way, including the good, the bad and the things I wish I’d known before I started.
If you want to know any more details, or you start looking for AI work, let me know in the comments. I’d love to know how your search is going.
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