New Delhi, Oct. 20 -- Idle Uber drivers in India can now earn extra income by AI-linked data labelling and annotation within the app as the ride-hailing firm monetizes its gig workforce to collect data that will help improve its services and could also be sold to others, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Uber has been conducting the pilot in 12 top Indian cities for about two weeks, the people quoted earlier said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

"The most common model, especially in pilots, is to pay workers flat per-task rates. Cash remains the preferred form of incentive, as drivers view it as tangible income rather than a perk," said one of the people cited above. Payouts typically range from Rs.10- Rs.50 for ...