As the global race to develop advanced humanoid robots accelerates, thousands of workers in India are contributing to the process by helping train artificial intelligence systems with real-world human actions.
In Chennai, 25-year-old homemaker Nagireddy Sriramyachandra spends time recording everyday household activities such as cutting mangoes while wearing a smartphone-mounted device. She earns ₹250 for every hour of recording, with the footage being used to teach AI-powered robots how humans perform routine tasks.
“Who else will give you 250 rupees an hour just for doing housework?” said Sriramyachandra. “I may get a robot myself in the future.”
The recordings, known as egocentric data, capture tasks from a first-person perspective and are considered valuable for training AI models that aim to help robots operate effectively in real-world environments. The data is collected through video glasses, head-mounted cameras, and motion sensors by workers operating from homes, factories, and dedicated studios.
Sriramyachandra submits her recordings through a specialized application connected to an AI data company with operations in India and the United States. The company serves several Fortune 500 multinational clients.
India has emerged as an important hub for the collection, processing, and annotation of AI training data. According to digital labour expert Aditi Surie from the Indian Institute for Human Settlements in Bengaluru, demand for such data collection services is expected to grow further in the coming years.
The rapid expansion of the humanoid robot industry is driving this demand. Industry projections estimate that more than 1 billion humanoid robots could be in use by 2050, primarily across industrial and commercial sectors.
At the same time, experts continue to raise concerns about the impact of automation on employment. A recent report by NITI Aayog highlighted that discussions around AI and jobs often focus on white-collar professions while overlooking the challenges and opportunities faced by India’s 490 million informal workers.
Among those participating in AI training projects is 55-year-old Ponni from Bengaluru, who creates flower garlands and has also contributed by recording her work. Reflecting on the future, she said, “The next generation … who might have to do work similar to mine, they will face a problem.”
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