Home/Compare AI training platforms Compare AI training platforms
Short answer
The four platforms we refer to all connect professionals to paid AI training work, but they differ in how they screen candidates, which domains they recruit most, and how work is packaged.
There is no single best platform. Applying to more than one is normal and usually sensible, because project demand fluctuates independently at each.
Open roles by platform right now
922Mercor
861Micro1
342Handshake AI
320SuperAnnotate
72AfterQuery
161Turing
140Ethos AI
2,818Total open
Side by side
| Platform | Open now | Screening | Strongest for |
|---|
| Mercor | 922 | AI-led interview, then project matching | Broad professional domains |
| Micro1 | 861 | AI screening interview, then vetted pool | Engineering and technical specialisms |
| SuperAnnotate | 320 | Application and domain assessment | Structured annotation and evaluation |
| Handshake AI | 342 | Profile-based qualification by subject | Graduate and early-career specialists |
| AfterQuery | 72 | Apply per specialism, then assessment | Narrow niches — every role states a rate |
| Turing | 161 | Role-specific screening, then client matching | Engineers and LLM training streams |
| Ethos AI | 140 | One general expert application | Fastest route in — single application |
Process details are set by each platform and change. Treat this as orientation and
confirm specifics on the platform itself when you apply.
Who is behind each platform
Worth knowing before you invest time in an application. A platform's funding and backing is a
reasonable proxy for whether it will still be running your project in six months.
| Platform | Headquarters | Founded | Total raised | Core staff |
|---|
| Mercor | San Francisco, USA | 2023 | ~$486M | ~200–500 |
| Micro1 | Palo Alto, USA | 2022 | ~$42M | ~11–50 |
| SuperAnnotate | San Francisco, USA | 2018 | ~$69M | ~310–370 |
| Handshake AI | San Francisco, USA | 2014 — AI division launched Jan 2025 | $434M | ~890–2,900 |
| AfterQuery | San Francisco, USA | 2025 (Y Combinator W25) | ~$31M | ~20–30 |
| Turing | Palo Alto, USA | 2018 | ~$247M | ~4,700 |
| Ethos AI | London, United Kingdom | 2023 | ~$23M | small — not publicly disclosed |
Most recent funding round
| Platform | Latest round | Notable backers |
|---|
| Mercor | $350M Series C at a $10B valuation (Oct 2025) | Felicis, Benchmark, General Catalyst, Robinhood Ventures |
| Micro1 | $35M Series A at a $500M valuation (Sep 2025) | 01 Advisors, LG Technology Ventures, Motley Fool Ventures |
| SuperAnnotate | $36M Series B (Nov 2024) | Socium Ventures, NVIDIA, Databricks Ventures, Base10 |
| Handshake AI | $200M Series F at a $3.5B valuation (Jan 2022) | Coatue, Kleiner Perkins, Spark Capital, True Ventures, EQT |
| AfterQuery | $30M Series A at a $300M valuation (Apr 2026) | Altos Ventures, Y Combinator, BoxGroup, The Raine Group |
| Turing | $111M Series E at a $2.2B valuation (Mar 2025) | Khazanah Nasional, WestBridge Capital, Foundation Capital, Sozo |
| Ethos AI | $22.75M Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz (May 2026) | Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst |
On these figures. Compiled in August 2026 from company announcements, PitchBook, Crunchbase, Tracxn and press coverage. Staff counts are core employees only — they exclude the contractor and expert networks, which are far larger and are why headcount figures on some sites run into the thousands. Funding and valuations change; treat these as a snapshot, not a live feed.
How to choose
- Apply to more than one. Volume at any single platform rises and falls with client dem.
- Match your domain to the platform's focus rather than applying everywhere identically.
- Do the interview quickly. On most platforms nothing progresses until it is done.
- Keep one strong resume aimed at your profession, not at "AI".
Where we fit
YO AI Labs is a referral partner to all four. We do not run their assessments, set their rates
or make their hiring decisions. What we do is keep the live board current so you can see everything
open in one place, and explain what each process involves before you start it.
Open the live roles board
Common questions
Which AI training platform is best?
There is no single best platform — they differ by domain focus and screening style rather than quality. Most experienced contributors register with more than one, because project volume at any single platform fluctuates with client dem.
Can I work with several platforms at the same time?
Usually yes, since most engagements are non-exclusive contract work. Check each contributor agreement for exclusivity or conflict clauses on specific projects before committing.
Do these platforms charge candidates?
Legitimate AI talent platforms do not charge contributors to apply or to be placed, and neither do we. A request for payment in exchange for work is a warning sign.
