Tech companies want humans to help level up AI models. What’s your price for training them?

Happy almost Friday! It’s not TV. It’s HBO, HBO Go, HBO Now, HBO Max, Max, HBO Max. The TV brand that brought us “The Sopranos” and “Sex and The City” is rebranding its streamer … again. BI’s Peter Kafka has more on all the flip-flopping and why, jokes aside, it’s acknowledgment of a deal gone bad. (At least HBO is leaning into the joke.)

In today’s big story, Meta will pay you $50 an hour to help make its avatars more realistic. Which begs the bigger question: How much would you need to be paid to train AI on something you’re good at?

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What’s on deck

Markets: The US-China trade deal doesn’t mean investors are out of the woods yet.

Tech: Amazon’s growing robotics business may mean fewer human hires in the future, according to an internal document.

Business: The job market might be the biggest risk no one’s talking about.

But first, lending a helping hand to AI.

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The big story

Train and gain

Want to make a quick $50? Just say “Cheese.”

Meta is paying $50 an hour to record people’s facial expressions and small talk to bolster its virtual avatars, writes BI’s Effie Webb.

It’s part of the tech giant’s massive bet that the metaverse is the future. Meta’s recruiting adults to make its virtual reality avatars as realistic as possible and create a social environment that is “indistinguishable from reality” during virtual interactions.

That sounds exhilarating or terrifying, depending on where you sit on the technology adoption scale. What’s not up for debate is that plenty of this type of work is going around.

Across the tech world, companies are hiring humans to train AI models to act more … human. Tesla previously paid up to $48 an hour to people training its humanoid robots. Meta also has contractors monitoring how “flirty” its chatbots get.

The humanization of AI is turning into a nice side hustle for those willing to put in the hours. One woman told BI she made $8,000 in three weeks training AI after hours. But it’s not always easy work. Sometimes it can involve stress-testing AI with “harmful” prompts, as Effie previously reported.

Tech companies’ constant push to level up their AI makes for an interesting dilemma for the humans training them.

Sharing your smile is one thing, since most of us don’t get paid to flash our pearly whites. (Don’t worry. I still think you look great.)

But what about training AI on something you’re good enough to get paid to do?

On the one hand, you could probably demand a higher rate for teaching AI a somewhat proprietary skill. On the other hand, are the short-term gains worth the long-term risks that could come with AI eventually being better at the task than you?

Simply put: Do you want to be the turkey setting the table for Thanksgiving?

Let me know what you think. They say everyone has a price. What’s yours for teaching AI your secret sauce?

3 things in markets

1. The S&P 500 just flashed an optimistic technical signal. The index moved above its 200-day moving average, which has historically signaled a positive long-term trend. LPL Financial’s technical analyst said it could spell a bottom for the market.

2. And Wall Street’s fear is subsiding. The index known as Wall Street’s fear gauge saw its fastest-ever drop from April 10 to May 12; Wall Street’s breathing easy now that the US and China have dialed down tariffs. The index had peaked when fears were high right after Liberation Day.

3. But investors might be declaring tariff victory too early. The US-China deal to temporarily reduce tariffs on Chinese imports to 30% pushed the S&P 500 up 3.2%. However, investors might be getting ahead of themselves for a variety of reasons.

3 things in tech

1. Tariffs have taken a toll on TikTok’s US e-commerce business. Four TikTok staffers told BI they attribute the drop-off in US sales to tariffs, which have created cost headaches for merchants. It’s one of the many setbacks the social media platform has experienced this year.

2. Waymo just got another recall headache. The company issued a software recall for more than 1,200 robotaxis after several of its cars were involved in barrier collisions, according to a report filed with a federal safety agency. It’s Waymo’s third recall in over a year, though the last two were voluntary.

3. Amazon robots won’t take your job, but they might end the need for it. Amazon said it sees warehouse robots as crucial to “flattening” its hiring curve, according to an internal document obtained by BI. It suggests Amazon could use robots to slow the rate of new hiring rather than replace existing workers.

3 things in business

1. The job market is on the brink of collapse. While unemployment remains historically low, things may not be as tranquil as they seem, writes economist Neil Dutta. From fewer job openings to the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s trade upheaval, signs are pointing to higher unemployment and a weaker job market.

2. Behind Ryan Coogler’s deal to own “Sinners.” The director behind the box-office sensation struck a rare deal with Warner Bros., giving him the rights to “Sinners” in 2050. A veteran entertainment and technology attorney spoke to BI about how Coogler could cash in.

3. The key deals struck during Trump’s tour of Saudi Arabia. Companies like Nvidia and Amazon have notched some big wins while Trump has been in the Middle East. Here’s a list of what’s been announced, from a major chip deal to a planned Saudi AI zone.

In other news

• Trump can’t stop talking about the pushback to Qatar’s Air Force One offer.
• We asked Grok why it was bringing up ‘white genocide’ in unrelated X posts. The AI’s answers are messy.
• Uber has a new plan to get you to use its app more: Cheaper ride and delivery options.
• VIDEO: How Army mountain soldiers are training for war with Russia.

What’s happening today

• Walmart reports earnings.
• Supreme Court hears case on Trump’s executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship.

• PGA Championship begins.

The Business Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Ella Hopkins, associate editor, in London. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.

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