Micro1
US AI data-research company — styled on its own site as "the data research company to accelerate AI in the real world" — that hires contractors worldwide as "experts" to train and evaluate AI models for its products Realm, Cortex and Robotics. You do not get hired into a job here. You join the platform, sit an AI interview, and are matched to client projects as they come up, across engineering, science, medicine, law and other domains. It is part-time by design: micro1 expects roughly 15–20 hours a week and says outright that you may keep your day job.
Can a South African join?
Bottom line: Yes — South Africans can join Micro1.
"Yes. We hire talent from around the world." Micro1 then names the places it cannot hire from: "due to legal, regulatory, and security requirements, we are unable to hire individuals who reside in the following countries and regions" — Afghanistan, Belarus, China, Cuba, DR Congo, Hong Kong, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Macao, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine and Yemen. South Africa is not on that list. An exclusion list that leaves South Africa out is stronger evidence than any "remote, global" tag.
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What it pays
Bottom line: No rate is published. You are paid hourly, per approved task, or a flat fee per task - whichever your contract says, so agree it before you sign.
Not published. Micro1 advertises "competitive compensation for expert knowledge" and states no rate anywhere on its expert pages, so we do not quote one — and the figures in our own old listings were corrupted, so we will not use those either. What their FAQ does set out is how you get paid: hourly, on time you track and the project team approves; pay-per-task, where an approved task pays your hourly rate multiplied by a "Project Payout Multiple" no matter how long it actually took; or a flat fee per approved task. Which applies is written into your contract. Agree the rate before you sign it.
How the money reaches you
Bottom line: You are paid in US dollars, twice a month, through Deel - once its identity checks clear.
USD, twice a month, through Deel. Micro1's own FAQ: "Payments are processed in USD on a bi-monthly basis (twice per month). As part of the onboarding process, you will receive a contract from us via Deel, our payroll platform." KYC runs through Deel and nothing is paid until it clears; a background check runs through KarmaCheck. You work from your own time zone and supply your own laptop — they state plainly that equipment is not provided.
How hard is it to get in?
Bottom line: Takes some effort — expect a screening step.
Four steps, in micro1's own words: "Apply for opportunities", "Take the AI interview", "Get onboarded", "Start earning". The interview is conducted by their own AI rather than a person. Some work also needs a certification, which "verifies your expertise through structured evaluation" — and they are honest that it is not a queue ticket: "Certification does not guarantee immediate placement, but it allows you to access and be considered for projects that match your verified skills." Onboarding then adds a KYC check through Deel and a background check through KarmaCheck. Nothing is paid until KYC clears.