Meta’s £40/Hour Side Gig: Just a Face, a Voice, and Total Confidence Required!

Meta is presenting a unique side job offering £40 ($53) per hour for those willing to have cameras document their smiles, squats, and casual conversations as part of its ambitious metaverse initiative.

Named Project Warhol, this data-gathering venture aims to fabricate lifelike avatars for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) systems, including Meta’s Quest headsets and Ray-Ban smart glasses.

Initially launched in Pittsburgh, the project has ignited curiosity and debate surrounding privacy issues and the future of digital identity. What does this unusual job entail, and is it truly worth the attention?

A Unique Opportunity

Project Warhol, managed by the data firm Appen, seeks participants aged 18 and older for two studies: Human Motion and Group Conversations, commencing in September 2025 at Meta’s Pittsburgh research facility.

‘We’re gathering data to improve the future of virtual reality,’ a Meta representative shared with Business Insider on 14 May 2025.

In the Human Motion segment, participants are asked to replicate facial expressions, read text, and make hand gestures while being recorded from various angles. Group Conversations involve two to three individuals engaging in lighthearted improvisation and casual discussions to capture natural speech and subtle facial expressions.

Meta’s goal is to develop photorealistic Codec Avatars, stemming from a 2019 initiative targeting ‘metric telepresence’ that emulates real-world presence in virtual settings, as noted by Medium.

With sessions lasting hours, participants could earn between £80 and £160 ($106–$212) daily. However, the extensive data collection process raises concerns about privacy, as Appen’s consent forms identify Meta as the client.

Advancing Meta’s Metaverse Goals

Meta’s drive for realistic avatars is crucial to its 2025 metaverse strategy, which CTO Andrew Bosworth refers to as the ‘most critical year’ for Reality Labs.

‘2025 is the year of greatness,’ Bosworth mentioned in a leaked memo, according to Business Insider on 3 February 2025, encouraging staff to enhance engagement in Horizon Worlds and mixed reality experiences. Reality Labs, despite incurring £47 billion ($62 billion) in losses since 2020, is set to introduce six AI-powered wearables, including advanced Ray-Ban smart glasses, to drive VR adoption.

The data collected from Project Warhol will refine avatars for both social and professional environments, from virtual meetings to gaming, competing with platforms like Roblox.

This initiative builds on Meta’s previous success with Ray-Ban smart glasses, which sold over 1 million units in 2024, as noted by The Verge, positioning AR as a bridge to the metaverse.

However, past challenges with avatar realism in 2022 underscore the difficulties of creating convincing digital likenesses.

Privacy Concerns and Future Implications

The allure of this side hustle is somewhat dimmed by privacy concerns, as participants must forfeit detailed biometric information, including facial expressions, gestures, and vocal patterns. With Reality Labs facing a £3.3 billion ($4.3 billion) loss in Q1 2025, Meta’s risky investment in avatars must deliver results, as stated by Business Insider.

‘This is a make-or-break year for the metaverse,’ Bosworth informed staff, cautioning against a ‘legendary misadventure’ if traction is lacking. Participants may feel no embarrassment, but they need to consider the risks of disclosing their data against the £40 ($53) compensation.

As Meta collaborates with developers on its Orion AR glasses, set for release in 2027, the data gathered from Project Warhol could revolutionize the forthcoming computing platforms by enabling lifelike avatars for VR and AR experiences.

This side job, focused on capturing facial and vocal subtleties, aims to reshape digital interactions in both social and professional contexts. Nonetheless, the significant costs associated with the metaverse raise uncertainties about its long-term sustainability. Will this innovative opportunity change the way we connect online, or will Meta’s ambitious aspirations ultimately prove financially unfeasible?

The outcomes of 2025 will be crucial in determining its success.