I let robot-trainers clean my apartment for free. It was unsettling, but I got over it. An AI startup named Shift offered free cleaning and a chef service in exchange for recording the entire process to train robots. The author, a journalist on a budget, accepted the offer, initially feeling uneasy about the cameras but eventually relaxing due to the free services. While the cleaning was unremarkable, the chef’s three-course meal was a highlight, leaving the author to ponder the long-term viability of such cost-intensive, data-gathering services.

• Shift, an AI startup, offers free housekeeping and chef services in New York.
• The price for these services is the video recording of the household tasks to train robots.
• The author agreed to have cleaners and a chef document their apartment and cooking process.
• While initially nervous about the cameras, the author appreciated the free services.
• The cleaning quality was average, but the three-course meal prepared by the chef was a positive experience.
• The author questions the sustainability of Shift’s business model due to high operational costs.
• Despite privacy concerns, the demand for such services is high. Continue reading https://www.businessinsider.com/robot-trainers-clean-apartment-cook-lunch-free-shift-ai-startup-2026-6