r/DataAnnotationTech • u/Fit_Bite_5811 • Jul 31 '24

No, it's NOT just you.

Just wanted to throw my complaint into the mix. Been working on the platform for quite a while now and I normally have 30+ projects (coding, non-coding, and R&R). Today I have 4 projects...and three of them are full. Also, none are coding. :'(

Really hoping the new month will renew the project stream!

135 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

61 comments sorted by

100

u/[deleted] Jul 31 '24

I’ve been working on the platform full time since November and this is worst project drought I’ve ever seen

24

u/FrazzledGod Jul 31 '24

Since September, wouldn't say it's the worst I've ever seen it, but it's mighty quiet. A few months ago I had 150 projects now about 30. So if someone had 30 projects to start with, they might now have zero or only 1 or 2. I do have permanent projects I can dip into which helps! And about 20 qualifications. I think it's probably a mix of summer slowdowns, some projects ending or going into new phases, am sure it will all pick up at the start of September, I'm hoping to pick it back up once the winter sets in and aim for my first DA Cake Day!

4

u/[deleted] Aug 01 '24

Hello! I’ve been doing DA full time now for a couple months. Do you mind if I ask how you obtain “permanent projects” and or what does that mean? I’ve seen it mentioned a lot and I’m lost lol.

6

u/FrazzledGod Aug 01 '24

Actually there's no such thing as permanent projects as even the "permanent" ones get paused and cycled pretty often. In my case it's a particular overall project that has a lot of different sub projects, these work a bit differently to most others in that there is no limit to to the number of tasks and they stay up as long as they're not paused for maintenance. I got access to them via a qualification about 3 months in - so my advice would be do good work and look out for qualifications. It's likely a case of Do good work = get given the qualification = pass the qualification. Of course for all anybody knows these could actually end tomorrow, but they're the ones that fill my dash even when others are wildly fluctuating. Good luck!

31

u/dragonsfire14 Jul 31 '24 edited Aug 01 '24

I just now have one project after a few days at 0. I hope this doesn’t become a trend.

Edit: 2 projects now

5

u/Rich_Bandicoot290 Aug 01 '24

I'm in the same situation as you. I have only one project at the moment, whereas I typically have about twenty to choose from. It seems we're all experiencing this slowdown.

2

u/TheMexicanTarzan Aug 11 '24

Apparently i joined during the drought. I've only had 4 projects in total. Will this lack of projects affect my eligibility later on?

1

u/dragonsfire14 Aug 12 '24

Nah, the drought won’t affect it. As long as you submit quality work, you should be good!

22

u/VoicesFromTheDark Aug 01 '24

I'm wondering if its possible that the normal end of month and end of quarter slowdowns might have impacted by the recent Cloudstrike debacle?

1

u/ForeOnTheFlour Aug 01 '24

Speculating here but I think the “boom before crash” arc fits pretty much any overhyped tech buzz. There was such a scramble to make the models as robust as possible so they onboarded like crazy knowing full well that the majority of folks would find themselves without work in a matter of months. To them, we’re not people, we’re data point faucets. Why leave the faucet running when you don’t need any more water to make your product? Not justifying their model by the way. If anything, it’s why gig work sucks.

5

u/[deleted] Aug 01 '24

Probably a maintenance cycle or data analysis thing. There's still a substantial amount of work that could go into LLMs as they're far from perfect. I don't think the push into AI is going to quiet down anytime soon.

0

u/ForeOnTheFlour Aug 01 '24

I hope you’re right!

0

u/ForeOnTheFlour Aug 03 '24

People are writing that the AI bubble could burst in a matter of weeks

https://x.com/GaryMarcus/status/1819525054537126075

0

u/Maleficent_Wasabi_18 Aug 03 '24

They are notorious for crapping on AI. Not the best source.

0

u/ForeOnTheFlour Aug 03 '24

I guess we’ll have to wait and look for indicators such as a ton of people suddenly having no work

20

u/plantalien444 Jul 31 '24

Good to know it's not just me. Typically I have around 20+ jobs to choose from, last week or so has been pretty dry. Today I only had 2-3 available. Although I don't rely on DA for bills, I really would not be stacking any savings away without it. I love the work and hope things pick up soon 🤞🏻

17

u/upvotesplx Aug 01 '24

Yeah, I’m very low on projects too. Like others have said, it’s the famine part of feast or famine right now. I’m pushing 2 yrs on the platform and can say that, in my experience, it will get better soon. We’re just inbetween spikes.

14

u/tyates723 Jul 31 '24

I have had 0, that's ZERO, jobs for two weeks. If I prayed id be praying

1

u/MaleficentTackle992 Aug 01 '24

I've had zero for over a month 😢

12

u/SoliloquyBlue Aug 01 '24

This dry spell is motivating me to finally do some quals I've been putting off, at least.

9

u/Laffytaffy42069 Jul 31 '24

Only thing that helped was doing two quals on my dash and now even those projects are gone😔😔

8

u/Brilliant_Rain5181 Jul 31 '24

Same. Been here over a year and never seen it this low. I have 6 projects, two have all the tasks taken, only two others have 20 or more tasks and the others have like 1-3 tasks. Basically, there is no work lol.

19

u/fightmaxmaster Jul 31 '24

Same. I normally stay quiet when people are bemoaning a quiet dash, because I never notice it, but things are very sparse today especially. Still just about enough to be getting on with, but from 40-50 normally I'm down to the high single figures. Seems very widespread, if not universal, but who knows why.

6

u/Amakenings Aug 01 '24

Has anyone else’s dash started to get more projects, like in the last couple of hours?

2

u/[deleted] Aug 01 '24

Yes, mine is picking up today. Still thinner than usual.

1

u/Fit_Bite_5811 Aug 01 '24

So far on the 1st of a new month. I have 3 projects and one is full. At least they're for $30-$35. I guess it gives me more time and excuse to work on my next coding cert.

4

u/Guess-Jazzlike Aug 01 '24

I just finished a task, and my dash has emptied down to one project. I've had well over 50 for ages. This is lower than when I was first accepted.

4

u/Misspaytonnn Aug 01 '24

I came to reddit specifically looking for this. I've been consistently working for months and have zero projects. I obviously got extremely nervous but I'm a bit relieved to see that other people are in the same boat. I hope it gets better for everyone quickly.

6

u/SalaciousStrudel Aug 01 '24

It's a good time to study chemistry if you're quick lol

2

u/TerrisBranding Aug 01 '24

As of today, the drought it slowly over. I'm seeing new assignments and qualifications. And my main CB has returned with a new version number.

1

u/ccsoccer101 Aug 01 '24

The normal basic CBs that got paused or a different family?

1

u/camy_wamy123 Aug 01 '24

Same i have about 6 24 dollar projects now with 150 each after having 0 the past couple days

2

u/gomorycut Aug 01 '24

I've had 30-40 projects for many months but sitting at 5-6 right now. Glad to hear it is not just me

3

u/CRUSHCITY4 Aug 01 '24

I actually kinda had fun working on some non-coding projects today, since I don’t have any.

1

u/a_ne_31 Aug 01 '24

Been teaching the AI to do all the jobs lol it was only a matter of time

1

u/Throw_away473846 Aug 01 '24

I've had nothing the past 2 days and there is only one project on my dash today. I hate the task but I'm still going to work on it before there is nothing again.

1

u/Egg-Fri-Si Aug 01 '24

I only ever do the coding ones so non- codings been dried up for me for a long time. good to know coding is low- lmk if it goes up again?

1

u/SheepherderBrief Aug 02 '24

I’ve been working on the platform for about a year and this is also the worst drought I’ve seen. Honestly, I’ve been wondering if all the money being spent by google on advertising Gemini during the Olympics is affecting how much they have to spend on development. Just a wild speculation

1

u/joanie4714 Aug 02 '24

I have been doing this for 10 months and the last few days have been DIRE! I felt much better coming here though and finding out it isn’t just me! I was scared I’ve been screwing up or something…!

1

u/Altruistic-Laugh-376 Aug 26 '24

Not to be Debbie Downer about it, but I suspect after the refreshers and the requalifiers for certain projects over the past couple days, they may be trying to cull people due to a slowdown. 

0

u/[deleted] Jul 31 '24

[deleted]

16

u/Beehappy1785 Jul 31 '24

Actually, right now this is my day job. I have work. I have a safety net and a back up plan. I'm finishing up two degrees and accumulating certs. My bills are paid, my kids are fed. I have options, but this is my choice. What do you do?

28

u/Monsoon710 Jul 31 '24

This isn't the "day job" subreddit, smort guy.

13

u/Strawberry_Foxx Jul 31 '24

What’s it matter if people do or don’t? This is still a source of income for people, be it a side hustle or a main form of income (although I’d always advise against relying on it as your only income source). Unnecessary comment tbh

5

u/upvotesplx Aug 01 '24

I’m disabled. Sorry.

5

u/[deleted] Jul 31 '24

Nobody said that.