---
title: "Mercor’s $2M daily payouts fuel AI labor debate"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/286719252.md"
description: "Mercor pays over $2 million daily to contractors for AI model training, raising concerns about intrusive monitoring and unstable contracts affecting its 30,000 workers. The growth of AI is reshaping early career opportunities, leading to calls for more practical learning in education."
datetime: "2026-05-18T05:45:28.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/286719252.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286719252.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/286719252.md)
---

# Mercor’s $2M daily payouts fuel AI labor debate

Record payouts: Mercor pays contractors over $2 million daily to help train AI models for leading tech firms. Worker concerns: Reports cite intrusive monitoring, unstable contracts, and economic hardship among some of Mercor’s 30,000 workers. Career pathways: AI’s growth is reshaping early career opportunities, prompting calls for more hands-on learning during education.

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