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Amazon wants to pay YOU for small tasks

mturk.com — Amazon's new "Mechanical Turk" service will pay you for completing small tasks for them or third parties. Tasks include picking the best picture of a building, or refining a product description.

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  • Squeegee, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1Look up "mutrk.com" in a whois database shows a point of contact email address as Hotmail! Why would "amazon" use a clown with a hotmail address? SCAM.... No Digg..
  • Squeegee, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0Mturk.com I meant..
  • trillion, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1squeegee, have you considered that maybe amazon bought the domain and the whois hasn't been updated yet?
  • bepo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Not just no, but hell no. 3 cents to pick the best picture of a building? If you do one a minute you are working for $1.80/hr. The highest paying one requires product research and pays a whopping $0.75.
  • rlorenzo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0it seems cool.. get humans to do the hard work for you. I did a couple of buildings.

    It isn't meant to be a job bepo. Fun to try it out.
  • cirmot, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1Scam, Scam, Scam. Oh and by the way if you resend this message to 10 of your friends, Bill Gates will pay you $10.
  • smackfu, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0It's like how the spammers make you decode email service sign-up CAPTCHAs to download ROMs.
  • monkeypecker, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I dunno about it being a scam I mean it *is* amazon and it goes into your amazon account which you can cash out into your checking pretty easily. I just spent 90 minutes IDing buildings on Miami Beach which was easy cause I lived there for 20 years. I made ~$9.00. Not bad for sitting here listening to music looking at pictures of South Beach.
  • Mark_H, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1https://www.amazon.com/gp/aws/ssop/index.html/104-0665108-9891929?is-secure=true&&awscbctx=&awscbid=urn%3Aaws%3Asid%3A027Y0TCSPRG5XHFYJSR2&awscredential=&awsstrict=false&wa=wsignin1.0&wctx=&wreply=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mturk.com%3A80%2Fmturk%2Fendsignin&wtrealm=urn%3Aaws%3Asid%3A027Y0TCSPRG5XHFYJSR2&awssig=laOjINzT0bhaOpepj%2B8XaUpHInI%3D

    It's a real amazon link with that mechanical turk logo in the upper left. Doesn't look like a scam to me.
  • SillyMamma, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1mturk.amazon.com goes to the mturk.com page
  • KyleCardoza, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html/002-9955843-2476845?node=3435361

    Quote from link:

    "Announcing Amazon Mechanical Turk (November 02, 2005)
    Today, humans still significantly outperform the most powerful computers at completing such simple tasks as identifying objects in photographs – something children can do even before they learn to speak. However, when we think of interfaces between human beings and computers, we usually assume that the human being is the one requesting that a task be completed, and the computer is completing the task and providing the results. What if this process were reversed and a computer program could ask a human being to perform a task and return the results? What if it could coordinate many human beings to perform a task?"

    Looks like it's legit.
  • AdamCo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If you look up the IP address in a whois database you get:

    http://www.dnsstuff.com/tools/whois.ch?ip=207.171.163.60&email=on
  • _HAM_, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2BAH!

    I was getting used to the interface and accepted a random HIT, then I returned it so someone else coudl do it.

    This has a negative impacted on your 'QUALIFICATIONS.'

    Now I'm not even qualified to describe a cigarette lighter.

    I suck at this game. Can someone powerlevel me.

  • djoek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0only for USians ... that will bum out eastern europe labor slaves.
  • Slipdisc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html/103-0314525-8555809?node=3435361
    Scam? LOL no it's no scam.
    Good digg

    + digg
  • gklitt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0By the way, on the ones where you pick out the building, I think they are simply for receiving qualifications. All of the pictures are horrible (deliberately).
  • RobCowie, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Great - US only. The rest of the World is also capable of human thought! Thanks Amazon
  • Cobra_Rob, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0can not register any more server errors like whoa
  • ross., on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Third world labor alive and kicking right here in the USA...does Michael Moore know about this? I'm sure he'd be outraged.
  • Cobra_Rob, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Was going to sign up so I can do while surfing in the hotel and at work but I guess not.. tried about 2-300 times and still "we are sorry" error :(
  • browell172, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1These are the jobs even illegal aliens won't do.
  • Katana, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1it's not slave labour, it's volunteer labour since your doing it out of choice.
  • Lumiras, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0hey, if it's something that'll earn me a little extra change, I'm up for it
  • twistymcgee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"it's not slave labour, it's volunteer labour since your doing it out of choice."

    Its not volunteer either because you get paid, but I understand what your point was. I agree this is a waste of my time so I won't be participating. I don't think it's intended to be a big money making thing for anyone though, more of a "get paid while you surf" deal. While you are looking at these buildings anyway, let us know whick one looks best.
  • theone3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Kinda cool.. Esp if you have a really fast connection :D

    I can see how this would be a fun pastime, but wouldn't it make more sense to get it done internationally where the exchange rate would mean it benefits others greatly, rather than earning a mere 0.05c, waiting to be rounded down by the pizza delivery guy?
  • mkagro, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11) It's not a scam

    2) international users can work on hits. The only part limited to the US is posting of work.
  • kblowers, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6This isn't supposed to replace your job, just the work you do at your job....
  • odsae, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Who's taking these godawful pictures? I keep hitting, none of the above.
  • alexanderhazard, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0What an awful deal. screw that. If i'm writing up a researched description, i want $5, not $.75
  • justdarick, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1To Squeegee::

    If you went through the trouble of doing a whois, why didn't you look up the ARIN record? I know many people have pointed out how wrong you are, I just wanted to be another one.

    Network Whois record

    Queried whois.arin.net with "207.171.166.182"...

    OrgName: Amazon.com, Inc.
    OrgID: AMAZON-4
    Address: 605 5th Ave S
    City: SEATTLE
    StateProv: WA
    PostalCode: 98104
    Country: US

    NetRange: 207.171.160.0 - 207.171.191.255
    CIDR: 207.171.160.0/19
    NetName: AMAZON-01
    NetHandle: NET-207-171-160-0-1
    Parent: NET-207-0-0-0-0
    NetType: Direct Assignment
    NameServer: NS-1.AMAZON.COM
    NameServer: NS-2.AMAZON.COM
    NameServer: NS-3.AMAZON.COM
    NameServer: AUTH00.NS.UU.NET
    Comment:
    RegDate: 1999-09-23
    Updated: 2002-03-19

    RTechHandle: AC6-ORG-ARIN
    RTechName: Amazon.com, Inc.
    RTechPhone: +1-206-266-2187
    RTechEmail: NOC@amazon.com

    OrgTechHandle: ROLEA19-ARIN
    OrgTechName: Role Account
    OrgTechPhone: +1-206-266-2187
    OrgTechEmail: noc@amazon.com

    # ARIN WHOIS database, last updated 2005-11-03 19:10
    # Enter ? for additional hints on searching ARIN's WHOIS database.
  • perilousone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Only 11 items available to me. 9 are in cities I've never visited. 2 are about automotive descriptions. Doh! I don't even qualify for slave labor!
  • Unkel_Slam, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1These all look like "drive by" photos. They mount a couple of cameras in a car with GPS and drive while taking automated pictures. Then link it up with a GIS.
    Someone, (google?) is probably creating a directory of brick and mortar businesses, and wants the storefront pictures to go along with it. Then you can use it (on your PDA, mobile phone, laptop) to find the place.
  • sohlemac, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I wouldn't mind doing some of this crap during commercial breaks while I'm vegging out in front of the teevee in the evening.
  • dotcomlarry, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It's so lame, and yet, I can't stop doing it! AAAAHHHHH!!!
  • RadicalBender, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Yes, absolutely everyone is correct! This sucks! It's a scam! Whatever complaint you have, it's true!

    And definitely do not go back to the site ever again.




    (So that I can make some more Christmas money in my down time...)
  • HiddenPeanuts, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1has anyone gotten any task approved yet? I'm wondering how strenuous the process is.
  • kuru225, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Finally i get paid for sitting here at work doing nothing
    .......ahh wait
    i get paid to sit here and do nothing anyways
  • Katana, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0no i haven't, wonder how long it's supposed to take to get it approved.
  • RadicalBender, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5OK, seriously though. I found this last night and worked for a few hours on it. It's remarkably easy and time-wasting, but, hey, free money.

    1) This isn't a scam. It's already been documented, but you can easily transfer your earned money into an Amazon gift certificate or directly to your bank account if you sign up for that.

    2) Amazon designed this as a way for humans to perform seemingly-trivial tasks that computer AIs suck at and, in exchange, you get a small micropayment. They've developed an API and will sell the service to others.

    3) Yes, it's kind of a waste of time and, yes, it's not a terrible amount of money, but spend an evening with it and you can buy a new CD or a couple of used ones. It's up to you whether the time investment/money reward is worth it or not. For me, since I already waste a lot of time and could use some extra Amazon money, it works for me.

    4) The site is far from perfect. It keeps feeding me the same ones I've skipped over and over. I've already complained to Amazon about this. Also, the site seems to be hosed at the moment, but it has its moments of lucidity.

    5) You don't have to live in the cities to work on them! I mean, seriously, you either see the Burger King, Washington Mutual or Save-On Drug Store in the pictures or you don't. It's not rocket surgery. Yes, half the time, the automated system seems to post pictures of empty fields, but select none of the above and you'll still get paid.

    6) The picture system was designed as part of Amazon's new Yellow Pages system they're working on. They sent trucks around major cities with camera rigs to take several pictures per block. Tie that with GPS and you get instant pictures to attach to Yellow Page listings. Now, obviously, it's not perfect, so that's why they're paying people to find the right pictures.

    That's all I can think of. I was hoping against hope that no one would discover this, but, oh well, cat's out of the bag now.
  • dude3609, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0For this quote below, ITS CALLED A JOB

    ""it's not slave labour, it's volunteer labour since your doing it out of choice."

    Its not volunteer either because you get paid, but I understand what your point was. I agree this is a waste of my time so I won't be participating. I don't think it's intended to be a big money making thing for anyone though, more of a "get paid while you surf" deal. While you are looking at these buildings anyway, let us know whick one looks best."
  • RadicalBender, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Oh, and for the time being, Amazon is manually verifying the accuracy of people's listings, so that's why it's taking so long for people's Total Earned amounts to increase. It was flying last night when fewer people were using the system. They're probably just overloaded with work right now. It does update eventually though. I'm up to around $14.
  • _HAM_, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I actually spent about the last three hours messing around with this. Made about $5, and have about 100 things waiting to be approved. So I'll probably make another $2.

    Its a good idea, but you could definitely make more money flipping burgers or something.

    The thing that sucks is that the site is so slow. I spent half my time waiting for the page to refresh. So the workflow is poor. Thats time I could have been clicking.

  • D14BL0, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Scam? Perhaps you should get a firmer grip on the concept of how the Internet works, kiddos. This site is hosted on Amazon's servers. Only Amazon has access to put any sites on their servers.

    It's entirely their doing, and perfectly legit.
  • BBSCI, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2At 3 cent to 75 cent you'll have to complete a few hundred tasks/hour to earn minimum wage.
  • jnorris441, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Amazon, you cheap bastard. Don't you at least have the decency to pay minimum wage? *****.
  • sonofalink, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0All these comments and no one has mentioned the terrible, terrible name. Mechanical Turk? WTF?
  • nanboya, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Amazon's version of "gold farming"... click click click
  • skidooer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"Someone, (google?) is probably creating a directory of brick and mortar businesses, and wants the storefront pictures to go along with it."

    Or, maybe it's because a9 maps (Amazon's take on Google maps) has street level photos? ;)
  • gambl0r, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2.03 * 12 per minute (when the site is performing better than it is right now) * 3 minutes a day * 365 days a year = $394

    So you can pay for all the Christmas presents you have to buy each year by spending three minutes a day identifying companies in photos. Its a cool idea if you can stick with it every day (and Amazon keeps the program going)
  • ddufour, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1this isn't a scam. You do a job, they tell you how much you will get paid, then they pay you. If you don't want to do it...don't.
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