60 Minutes Transcript: Artificial intelligence and the future of work

Mercor has grown into a major player in a fast-expanding business that supports artificial intelligence development. Its chief executive is 23-year-old Brendan Foody, whose company is now valued in the billions. He started it with two friends from high school after seeing the potential of ChatGPT about four years ago. They concluded AI would need data beyond what was publicly online to advance.

Mercor is hired by large AI developers to strengthen systems such as ChatGPT and Claude in specific areas. Those areas can range from finance and architecture to poetry. To do that work, the company draws on a network of over 100,000 freelance specialists who contribute professional knowledge.

The report highlighted three contributors: winemaker Shawna Miller, music producer Robbie Hiser and physician Melania Poonacha. Hiser described reviewing assignments such as two draft versions of song lyrics and offering detailed feedback. He noted AI lacks personal history to draw upon in creative work.

Correspondent Jon Wertheim asked whether training AI in skills people spent careers mastering puts jobs at risk. Foody replied that the shift is "changing human work" rather than eliminating it, adding that "evolution is natural" as repetitive duties change and people move to other roles.

The discussion reflects broader concerns as AI moves quickly from basic search-like functions to complex fields. Wertheim noted the broad aim is for AI to replicate anything people can do. How that balance between human expertise and automation develops remains the central question for workers.