Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) was launched in 2005 by Amazon.com as a marketplace for businesses and individuals to outsource small tasks to a global crowd of "workers." The platform was created to address a problem that Amazon's own researchers had encountered: that certain types of tasks, such as image and video annotation, were too time-consuming and expensive to be done by machines, but too simple and repetitive to be done by humans working full-time.
The concept behind MTurk was to create a marketplace where businesses could post small tasks, known as "Human Intelligence Tasks" (HITs), and a global crowd of workers could complete them for a small fee. The tasks could be anything from data entry, image and video annotation, surveys, and more. Workers, also known as "Turkers," can sign up for an account on the MTurk website and begin completing HITs and earn money.
The idea behind MTurk was to allow businesses to access a global workforce and for workers to earn money online. Over the years, MTurk has grown in popularity and is now used by a wide range of businesses and organizations, including startups, research institutions, and large companies.
Amazon Mechanical Turk is a flexible way for businesses to access a global workforce and for workers to earn money online. It's a platform that allows businesses to outsource small tasks at a low cost, and it allows workers to earn some extra money by completing simple tasks.
How much money can we make on Mturk?
The amount of money you can earn on Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) can vary widely depending on the amount of time and effort you're willing to put in, as well as your qualifications and experience.
The average hourly wage for MTurk workers is around $2 to $4, with some workers earning more and others earning less. The pay for individual tasks, known as "Human Intelligence Tasks" (HITs), can range from a few cents to a few dollars. Some workers may be able to earn more by completing higher-paying tasks, such as those that require specialized skills or qualifications.
However, it's important to keep in mind that the pay on MTurk is generally quite low and it's not a suitable platform for anyone looking for a full-time income. Additionally, it's a platform that is available on demand, you might not find tasks or HITs available to work on, which could reduce your earning potential.
It's also important to be aware that the earning potential on MTurk can vary depending on your location and the local cost of living. For example, workers in countries with lower costs of living may be able to earn a decent income on MTurk, while workers in countries with higher costs of living may find it more difficult to make ends meet.
Overall, while it's possible to earn some extra cash on Amazon Mechanical Turk, it's not a platform that will allow you to make a full-time living or consistent income. It's better to consider MTurk as a way to earn a little extra money on the side, rather than a primary source of income.