Shift offers free home cleanings in New York in exchange for video

In short: Shift says it will clean homes in New York for free, but it will record the cleaning to collect video it can use to train robots.

What happened

Shift, an AI training startup, says people in New York City can book a free apartment cleaning for a limited time. The company says the cleaning is paid for by the value of the recorded video, not by money from the customer.

In its promo video and social posts, Shift shows a cleaner wearing what the company calls a “magic hat.” The hat is a camera device that records from the cleaner’s point of view, like a GoPro-style body camera but worn on the head.

Shift says it will use this footage as “training data,” meaning examples that help teach AI systems and robots how to do a task (similar to showing someone many demonstrations so they can copy the steps). The company says it blurs and anonymizes sensitive details like faces, names, and information visible on screens or ID cards before using the video.

Shift also says its cleaners are vetted through partners, but they are not Shift employees. The company notes that messier homes can be more useful for training, although cleaners may refuse tasks they are not comfortable doing.

Shift says it plans to expand beyond New York “very soon” to San Francisco, London, Zurich, and Munich. It also says cleaning is just a starting point, and it may later record other work like plumbing, cooking, and building.

Why it matters

This is a clear example of a trade many people may see more often. Instead of paying with cash, you “pay” with access to your home and a recording of what happens inside it. For customers, the big questions are privacy, consent, and how comfortable they are with cameras in their living space, even if some details are blurred.

Source: The Verge AI