Amazon service Bezos once called 'artificial artificial intelligence' is shutting down
Mechanical Turk launched in 2005 as a way to farm out tasks that are easy for humans to complete but too challenging for computers.
Amazon's Mechanical Turk, a service that crowdsources small tasks to a human workforce, is shutting down. Launched in 2005, Mechanical Turk was initially seen as an innovative way to bridge the gap between tasks that computers couldn't handle and those that humans could complete quickly and efficiently. Dubbed "artificial artificial intelligence" by founder Jeff Bezos, the platform allowed businesses and researchers to post micro-tasks, known as HITs, that required human intelligence to complete.
The shutdown of Mechanical Turk may not come as a surprise, given the rapid advancements in AI and machine learning technologies that have made it possible for computers to handle tasks that were previously thought to be exclusive to humans. However, the platform still maintained a significant user base, with many relying on it for data labeling, content moderation, and other tasks. For brokers, the demise of Mechanical Turk may have implications for companies that have relied on the platform for data collection and processing.
As the shutdown of Mechanical Turk unfolds, industry participants should watch how companies adapt to the changing landscape of human-in-the-loop tasks. With the increasing availability of AI-powered tools, businesses may need to reassess their workflows and explore alternative solutions for tasks that require human intelligence. Additionally, brokers may want to monitor the impact on companies that have used Mechanical Turk for data collection and processing, as this could potentially affect their operations and bottom line.
Originally reported by cnbc.com. BrokerNews adds analysis for finance & markets readers.