Artificial intelligence (AI) agents are increasingly prevalent, with tools like OpenClaw and Claude enabling automation across various tasks. Amid concerns about AI dominance, a new trend has emerged where humans can earn money by engaging with these AI agents.
Humwork, a startup supported by Y Combinator, has introduced a novel concept – AI agents compensating individuals for interacting with them. Founded by Yash Goenka and Rohan Datta, both graduates of UC Berkeley with Indian heritage, Humwork operates as a real-time marketplace facilitating connections between AI agents and verified human experts.
Understanding Humwork
Humwork operates as a platform where AI agents can seek assistance from human experts in real-time when encountering challenges during autonomous operations. When an AI agent encounters issues such as bugs, design flaws, or decision-making dilemmas, it automatically reaches out to a human expert on the platform for guidance.
Traditionally, when an AI agent faces a problem, it might cease operations or seek assistance from its human operator. Humwork addresses this by enabling AI agents to continue functioning seamlessly while engaging with experts for support without interrupting the user. The connection between an AI agent and a human expert can be established in under 30 seconds.
Becoming a Human Expert
Individuals interested in earning income by conversing with AI agents can create a profile as a human expert on the Humwork platform. According to Humwork, expertise in fields such as engineering, design, strategy, or related disciplines is sought after.
Potential human experts must undergo an interview process to validate their skills before they can start earning through the platform.
A representative from Humwork informed India Today Tech that the current payout for engaging with AI agents stands at a fixed rate of 70 cents per minute. This equates to approximately Rs 65 per minute.
Payment Mechanism for AI Agents
Human users are required to register their AI agents on the Humwork platform to facilitate payments. Humwork offers two subscription plans, priced at $20 (around Rs 1,865) and $100 (around Rs 9,327) respectively. Separate plans are available for enterprise users.
Humwork is operational and open for integration, enabling developers and companies utilizing AI agents to