For software engineers
Your coding skills could earn you more.
Discover flexible AI training opportunities where developers review code, evaluate responses, and help improve AI models.
- Remote opportunities
- Flexible project work
- Potential additional income
Independent guide. Not affiliated with any AI training platform. Availability, eligibility and pay vary.
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Quick question, developer. Which code is better?
Both functions check an array for duplicate integers. Pick the one you would merge, and say why if you like.
Write containsDuplicate(nums) that returns true if any integer appears more than once in nums, otherwise false.
function containsDuplicate(nums) { for (let i = 0; i < nums.length; i++) { for (let j = i + 1; j < nums.length; j++) { if (nums[i] === nums[j]) return true; } } return false;}function containsDuplicate(nums) { const seen = new Set(); for (const n of nums) { if (seen.has(n)) return true; seen.add(n); } return false;}The opportunity
Some companies pay developers to evaluate AI-generated code
AI companies need people who can tell whether generated code is correct, efficient and actually answers the request. Several platforms hire independent contractors with programming experience to review code, compare solutions and explain their judgements in writing. Work is remote and project-based, and the platforms set their own rates, requirements and availability.
Illustrative earnings calculator
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The work
What is technical AI training?
Developers help improve AI models by doing the kind of review work engineers already do every day — with an emphasis on clear written reasoning.
Evaluate AI-generated code
Decide whether code actually does what was asked — including the edge cases the author forgot.
chunk([1, 2], 5) returns [] — the whole list is lost.
Compare alternative solutions
Choose between two implementations under the stated constraints, not personal taste.
O(n²) vs O(n) with O(n) memory: which fits n ≤ 100,000?
Detect incorrect reasoning
Spot explanations that sound right but contradict the code they describe.
“Preserves order” — followed by .sort().
Assess instruction following
Check every explicit requirement, including the ones no test covers.
All tests pass, but the requested Javadoc is missing.
Identify behavioural inconsistencies
Rate honesty, calibration, safety and fairness using only the evidence provided.
Confidently claims a feature the changelog says doesn't exist.
Explain and justify decisions
Write short, specific, verifiable reasoning. Often the explanation is the product.
Incorrect: [-3, -1, -2] returns 0, expected -1.
The journey
How it works
- 01
Discover opportunities
- 02
Check eligibility
- 03
Practise skills
- 04
Apply independently
- 05
Complete the platform's own assessment
- 06
Potentially access projects if accepted
SoftwareSideHustles.com is an independent guide. Platforms make their own decisions about applications, assessments and project access; we have no influence over them.
Opportunities
Platforms that hire for technical AI evaluation
Summaries are based on each provider's public pages, with sources and the date we last checked.
DataAnnotation
Remote contract work evaluating and improving AI output, including dedicated coding roles.
DataAnnotation offers remote contract work training AI models. Its coding roles involve working with frontier models on real tasks, analysing AI-written code against production standards and red-teaming models to expose broken or unsafe code. Applicants choose a qualification track and take a starter assessment.
Work types
- Evaluating AI-generated code
- Analysing implementations against production standards
- Red-teaming models for unsafe or wrong code
- Rating and ranking responses
- Fact-checking
Typical background: For coding roles, DataAnnotation's job board asks for professional or serious open-source experience shipping production code, comfort in at least one major stack (it states most tasks use Python, C++, Rust, Go or JavaScript) and clear written English. It states that no degree is required for this role.
Remote & location: Remote contract roles with flexible hours. The FAQ states there are no minimum hours, and that work availability depends on demand for your skills and your past performance. DataAnnotation's public FAQ does not list eligible countries. Check current availability with DataAnnotation before applying.
Checked against DataAnnotation — homepage, DataAnnotation — FAQs on 12 Oct 2026.
Alignerr
An expert network, powered by Labelbox, that pays specialists to help train AI.
Alignerr connects experts with paid AI training work, including a coding category. You apply to individual job listings, each showing its requirements and pay. Some projects add an AI interview or a domain-specific assessment, and accepted contributors complete identity verification.
Work types
- Evaluating AI answers
- Coding evaluation (coding category)
- Writing domain-specific tasks
- Search result evaluation
Typical background: Alignerr says it works with PhDs, researchers, subject-matter experts and experienced professionals. Requirements are set per job listing.
Remote & location: Listings are described as remote and flexible, "on your schedule". Alignerr's public pages do not list eligible countries. Its process page says payment setup depends on your location.
Checked against Alignerr — homepage, Alignerr — application process on 12 Oct 2026.
Mercor
A marketplace matching experts, including engineers, with paid AI evaluation and benchmark projects.
Mercor connects professionals with AI companies for human evaluation, data and benchmark work, including software engineering benchmarks. You apply to specific listings; the process can include an AI interview, assessments and identity verification, and pay is set per contract.
Work types
- Human evaluation of AI output
- Benchmark and RL environment tasks
- Software engineering benchmark work
- Domain expert projects
Typical background: Mercor describes its network as experts such as physicians, lawyers, engineers and consultants. Requirements are set per listing and can include assessments and an AI interview.
Remote & location: Contract work on specific projects. Some projects use time-tracking software (Insightful) and project-specific tools. Mercor's referral documentation states that when a listing names a region, only candidates from that region are eligible, and that listings without a stated location are presumed open to applicants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom or the European Union. It also publishes a list of countries where it can pay experts.
Checked against Mercor — homepage, Mercor talent docs — index on 12 Oct 2026.
Practice labs
Practise the skills before you apply
Interactive labs built around the same skills: comparing code, evaluating responses, ranking preferences and judging behaviour.
The Code Comparison lab is free — no account required. Premium practice is a one-time purchase with no subscription.
- Free
Code Comparison
Pick the better implementation and justify it with complexity, correctness and constraints.
Start free - Premium
Response Evaluation
Judge an AI's full answer: which tests fail, which requirements are missed, and how to fix it.
Preview - Premium
Preference Labelling
Rate two responses on a seven-point scale and calibrate “slightly” versus “strongly”.
Preview - Premium
Behavioural Evaluation
Assess honesty, calibration, privacy, fairness and more — trait by trait, with evidence.
Preview
Not sure which platform to explore first?
Answer a short questionnaire about your background and we'll suggest platforms, practice and next steps. No account needed.
FAQ
Straight answers
Pay, acceptance, schedules and what we earn — without the hype.
Put Your Coding Skills to Work
Start with the free practice lab, or answer the questionnaire to see which platforms fit your background.