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AI Trainer: Definition and Tasks
An AI trainer is a specialist who teaches artificial intelligence to respond correctly and logically to user queries. The primary focus of an AI trainer's work is to create a system that will provide accurate and useful answers while avoiding factual distortions and unacceptable topics such as politics, religion, and health. An example of such a neural network is YandexGPT, which can write texts, retell works, answer questions, and even joke.
Neural networks are trained on data from the Internet; however, not all sources are reliable. This is where the AI trainer comes in, helping the system distinguish credible sources of information from unreliable ones and recognizing what constitutes an ethical response versus an offensive one. Essentially, the AI trainer teaches the "machine" to interact with users as a knowledgeable and ethically aware human would.
History of the AI Trainer Profession
The profession of AI trainer emerged alongside the development of artificial intelligence technologies. With advancements in computing power and data availability, the need arose for specialists who could manage the machine learning process. The first job openings for AI trainers appeared in the USA at major technology companies. One of the first companies to start hiring such specialists was OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT.
Thus, the capabilities of neural networks, including communication with people, text creation, and programming code generation, became possible due to training on large data volumes and receiving feedback from humans. Specialists working with ChatGPT earn about $15 per hour, engaged in text tagging and verifying the correctness of responses. In Russia, the first company to open vacancies for AI trainers was Yandex, which began searching for professionals to work with the language model YandexGPT in 2023.
Main Responsibilities of an AI Trainer
The work of an AI trainer involves effectively training the system to solve various tasks. Key responsibilities include:
- Data Preparation: Selecting and preprocessing data for training, removing duplicates, and correcting information.
- Response Verification: Analyzing the performance of the neural network, identifying errors, and making adjustments during the training process.
- Creating Reference Texts: Writing exemplary materials for training the system.
- Editing Responses: Correcting generated texts to achieve accuracy and adherence to ethical standards.
- Effectiveness Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of the model's performance and adjusting the training process to improve results.
Ethics is particularly significant when dealing with sensitive topics such as medicine and religion, as an incorrect response can cause harm. Pavel Chechulin, the head of the AI trainer group at Yandex, notes that AI trainers are involved in text annotation, evaluation, and writing, with an emphasis on simplicity and clarity of language.
Key Skills of an AI Trainer
To successfully fulfill their responsibilities, an AI trainer must possess certain knowledge and skills:
Professional Skills (Hard Skills)
- Literacy: Knowledge of language norms and rules.
- Editing Skills: Ability to assess texts in terms of logic and structure.
- Fact-Checking: Ability to work with sources and distinguish credible data from fake.
- Copywriting: Ability to create texts in various genres.
Personal Qualities (Soft Skills)
- Attention to Detail: Ability to notice errors and inconsistencies in texts.
- Broad Outlook: Willingness to explore new areas and topics.
- Critical Thinking: Ability to analyze information and draw conclusions.
- Perseverance: Ability to work with large volumes of information and perform routine tasks.
- Teamwork: Communication with other specialists and the ability to ask questions.
Where AI Trainers Can Work
AI trainers are primarily in demand in companies engaged in technology development. In Russia, current job openings are available at Yandex and Tinkoff. Abroad, such specialists are required not only in the IT sector but also in educational institutions, as well as in financial and e-commerce companies like Amazon and eBay, where AI is used to optimize algorithms.
Salary of an AI Trainer
In Russia, the salary level for AI trainers varies. At Yandex, it starts from 75,000 rubles per month, depending on the number of working hours. According to company specialists, the final salary depends on the tasks completed. At Tinkoff, the salary is not disclosed but is also based on the number of tasks processed. In the USA, the average salary for an AI trainer is $27 per hour, which translates to about $4,657 monthly income.
How to Become an AI Trainer
The profession of AI trainer is still new, and there is no specialized education available in universities. In Russia, the only course offering training in this field is the Yandex AI Trainer School, launched in 2023. The training is free and lasts one month. To enroll, one must have experience working with texts and complete a test task.
Yandex also offers an introductory course from which one can learn the basic principles of working with neural networks. Tinkoff is also seeking AI trainers with experience in text-related professions. To be admitted to the course, candidates will need to pass a Russian language proficiency test and write several texts that will be evaluated by specialists.
Prospects of the Profession
Every year, artificial intelligence permeates all spheres of life, leading to an increased demand for AI trainers. With the advancement of technology, the profession will undergo changes. Currently, such specialists are primarily involved in developing language models, and in the future, new specializations may emerge with a focus on analytics or programming. Thus, the profession of AI trainer will remain relevant in the coming years.