Scale AI

Scale AI was founded in San Francisco in 2016 by Alexandr Wang and Lucy Guo. The company helps organizations build and test artificial intelligence by supplying training data, human feedback, evaluations and software for managing that work. In plain language, Scale provides the examples and expert judgments that help an AI system learn what a good answer looks like.

Scale works with technology companies, enterprises and public-sector organizations. Its company overview describes services that range from preparing data to testing model performance and safety. The business is still active, but its public contributor marketplace no longer operates under the Scale AI name. Instead, AI data training work now takes place on Outlier.

AI data training work at Scale AI

Scale has used large networks of people to label data, write prompts, compare model answers and provide expert feedback. The work has grown from conventional image, text and audio annotation into more advanced generative-AI projects. Depending on the project, contributors may solve coding problems, explain mathematical reasoning, check factual accuracy, improve writing, assess safety risks or rank two answers produced by a model.

In 2023, Scale introduced the Outlier brand for expert AI training work. Outlier recruits both generalists and specialists, including software developers, scientists, mathematicians, writers and people with professional or academic subject knowledge. The precise mix of roles changes with customer demand, so an area that is recruiting today may have little or no work later.

What is it like to work at Scale AI?

It can be useful to expect the current contributor relationship to be with Outlier rather than a conventional Scale AI employee role. Contributors generally work as independent contractors, choose when to work and complete tasks remotely. Country eligibility, expected expertise and the amount of work differ by opportunity. Some projects have recommended or maximum weekly hours, while others allow you to work whenever tasks are available.

Passing onboarding does not guarantee a steady assignment. It can place you in a talent pool, after which projects are matched to your skills and location. Work can pause when a project changes, reaches capacity or ends. Rates also vary by subject, location and project, and any rate shown for one opportunity applies only to that opportunity.

Outlier’s contributor FAQ says payment is processed weekly on Tuesdays for approved work. Project instructions and quality checks are important: work that does not meet the required standard may be rejected or lead to removal from a project.

Recent company development

Scale announced that Francis deSouza will become chief executive officer on August 10, 2026, replacing interim CEO Jason Droege. The appointment is part of Scale’s expansion across both its data and enterprise applications businesses. It does not change the current contributor route: independent AI-training work continues through Outlier.

Important 2026 legal update

A California court has preliminarily approved a proposed $12.5 million wage-and-hour settlement involving Scale AI, Smart Ecosystem and related defendants. The claims were brought by former contractors and workers; the defendants deny violating the law and maintain that contributors are independent contractors. People who received a settlement notice face a September 3, 2026 deadline to opt out, object or challenge recorded work periods, and the final approval hearing is scheduled for October 30, 2026. The court-appointed settlement website has the controlling details and should be checked for date changes.

Application process at Scale AI

To apply for current work, you create an Outlier account rather than applying through Scale’s corporate website. You normally provide your identity, location, education, work history and areas of expertise. Depending on the role, you may complete a language, writing, coding or subject-matter assessment and review project-specific training material.

After you pass the relevant checks, Outlier can match you with an available project. You may still need to complete another qualification before production tasks appear. A successful application means you are eligible to be considered; it is not a promise of immediate tasks, minimum hours or a fixed contract length.

For current application details, available jobs and Thriveth member experiences, continue to the Outlier company profile.

Sources: Company website · Scale CEO announcement · Court-appointed settlement website

Information last updated August 2026.