Uber is rolling out a new income opportunity for its drivers and couriers beyond traditional ride-hailing and food delivery. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi unveiled the “Digital Tasks” pilot program at the Only on Uber 2025 conference in Washington, D.C., allowing U.S. drivers to earn extra money by completing online assignments that help train AI models.
How the Digital Tasks Program Works
The initiative offers drivers flexible opportunities to complete various online tasks, including uploading photos, recording audio clips, and annotating content. Simple tasks can be completed directly on a smartphone, while more advanced assignments like translating or editing content are available through Uber’s web platform. The company’s Chief Product Officer, Sachin Kansal, confirmed that payouts vary depending on each task’s time commitment, though specific wage details remain undisclosed.
Why Uber Is Diversifying Driver Income
The program arrives as Uber prepares for major industry shifts. CEO Khosrowshahi previously stated that autonomous vehicles and robotaxis could replace human drivers within 10 to 15 years, making this diversification critical. Currently, access to Digital Tasks is limited during the pilot phase, but Uber plans to expand it to all drivers and couriers on both its main platform and Uber Eats.
Uber may eventually open these tasks to non-drivers, broadening the program’s reach. While competitor Lyft lacks a similar AI training program, Amazon’s Mechanical Turk platform offers comparable crowdsourced task opportunities. This move represents Uber’s continued efforts to expand beyond its core services and provide drivers with sustainable income alternatives as the gig economy evolves.