Remote AI work is getting a lot of attention, and not all of it is accurate. Here is a plain look at one option, the Handshake AI Fellowship, and the questions worth asking before you apply.
What Handshake is. Handshake is a career network that connects job seekers, colleges, and employers. Founded in 2014, it calls itself the career network for the AI economy and says it has about 25 million job seekers, 1,600+ schools, and 1 million employers on the platform. Students and early-career professionals use it to find internships, full-time jobs, freelance and gig work, while employers use it to recruit. The Handshake AI Fellowship is one of its newer offerings: remote, part-time work where people apply their expertise to AI projects.
What it is. Handshake describes it as remote, part-time work that is paid hourly. You apply, verify your identity, get matched to a project, complete training, then contribute your expertise.
What to check first
- Eligibility. The invitation page says you must be based in the U.S. with work authorization that Handshake can support. Check your own situation before you spend time on it.
- Pay varies. Listed rates range widely, up to $17 an hour for AI Evaluation Specialist and higher for specialist roles. Your project and rate decide what you actually earn.
- Placement is not guaranteed. Handshake decides who is matched to a project, so plan for that.
- Read the terms before you start, including how and when you are paid.
- Protect your data. Share only what the platform needs, and never pay anyone to get access.
- Decide what it replaces. Flexible hourly work can help with a gap or a side income. It is not a full-time job.
If it fits, you can start here: I may earn a bonus if you sign up here: Handshake
Nicholl McGuire, blog owner and contributor
