Computer Power Users & Automation Builders (Must own MacBook)
Listing checked October 19, 2026 · pay as published by Mercor
Overview
Mercor needs people who treat a Mac like a workshop, not just a browser. You will run real multi-app productivity and automation tasks on your own machine and narrate what you are doing, so a leading AI lab can benchmark and train its models on genuine workflows. The work leans on macOS, Shortcuts, AppleScript, and keyboard-first tools you already use every day. Expect a part-time load of roughly 10 to 20 hours a week, an hourly rate, and a structure far calmer than a consulting sprint or a packed internship. An immediate start is preferred.
What You'll Do7
- 1Carry out realistic productivity and automation jobs across several apps on your own Mac, start to finish
- 2Talk through your reasoning out loud or in writing while you work so the session records a clear decision trail
- 3Build and test automations with tools such as Shortcuts, Automator, AppleScript, Keyboard Maestro, Raycast, Alfred, Zapier, Make, or shell scripts
- 4Turn everyday macOS chores into repeatable flows and document the steps in a form others can follow
- 5Adjust system settings and keyboard-driven habits to finish tasks in fewer clicks, then explain the tradeoffs
- 6Flag tasks where a model's suggested steps break down, and describe what correct behavior should look like
- 7Meet the weekly hour target of 10 to 20 hours and keep sessions consistent across the project
Requirements7
- 1A MacBook or Mac of your own with an Apple M-series chip or an Intel processor running macOS 15 or newer. No Mac means no consideration
- 2Fluency with macOS, including its built-in apps, system settings, and keyboard-first navigation
- 3Hands-on experience building automations in Shortcuts, Automator, AppleScript, Keyboard Maestro, Raycast, Alfred, Zapier, Make, or shell scripting
- 4Either current Masters study, a recently finished Masters, or 2 to 3 years of relevant work plus a Bachelors from a well-regarded institution
- 5The ability to explain your thinking while you work, not only after the fact
- 6Strong writing and speaking skills in English
- 7Availability for roughly 10 to 20 hours per week, with a preference for candidates who can begin soon
Who Should Apply
People who automate their own Mac for fun and can name the exact Shortcuts, AppleScript, or Keyboard Maestro macros they built. Grad students and early-career builders with 2 to 3 years of relevant experience fit well, as long as they own a compatible Mac and can narrate their reasoning live.
Salary Insight
The listing posts $50 to $60 per hour. At the stated 10 to 20 hours per week, that lands somewhere between $500 and $1,200 weekly before taxes, which is strong pay for part-time research support work. The exact rate depends on your experience and where you fall in the assessment.
Pay and demand for Machine Learning & AI roles
AggregatedTypical pay
$80/hour
This role
$50–$60/hr
Most Machine Learning & AI roles pay $55–$105 per hour. This role's pay falls inside that range.
Based on 484 similar roles that publish pay · 93 publish only a top rate; those count at the rate they gave
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Hiring most right now: micro1 (228) · Mercor (74) · SME Careers (64)
Most requested skills · share of roles
- python20%
- technical writing10%
- ai evaluation8%
- ai training8%
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Compensation
$50–60/hr
Required Skills
Application Tip
When you take the 3-minute AI interview, think out loud the way you would during a task session: name the tool you would reach for, such as Keyboard Maestro or a shell script, and say why. Add 2 or 3 concrete automations you built on your Mac and the hours they save each week, and state your macOS version and chip model up front since the Mac requirement is a hard filter.
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