Yes, Turing is a real, well-funded company based in Palo Alto that hires developers and subject experts as remote contractors, much of it to help train AI models for clients such as OpenAI. Getting in means skill assessments and live interviews. The catch: you're an independent contractor handling your own tax, work depends on projects, and Turing doesn't publish pay rates.
Turing gets mixed up with a lot of things, from Alan Turing to the Turing test, so let's be clear: this page is about Turing the company, the one recruiting coders and experts for remote AI work. It's a name I hear more and more from people who want to turn a technical skill into flexible income. I've gone through Turing's own jobs pages and the press coverage of its funding so you can judge it on facts.
Who is behind Turing
The company describes itself as a company that hires talent for AI and software projects, and its finances are public enough to check. According to a Business Wire release, it was founded in 2018. TechCrunch reported that it's based in Palo Alto, California, and is led by CEO Jonathan Siddharth.
The bigger signal is the money behind it. TechCrunch reported that Turing raised a 111 million US dollar Series E at a 2.2 billion US dollar valuation, led by Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Berhad, taking its total funding to 225 million US dollars. Siddharth told TechCrunch the company had been profitable for about a year.
That doesn't promise anything about your experience as a contractor, but it does answer the first part of the question. Turing is a large, established business, not a fly-by-night job site.
What kind of work Turing offers
Turing started out matching software developers with companies, and that side still exists. According to TechCrunch, its direction shifted when OpenAI wanted Turing to generate code that improved model reasoning, and it now supplies engineers who contribute code to AI projects for OpenAI and other model makers. It also builds generative AI apps for businesses.
Its jobs page splits the work into two areas. AI advancement is where you use industry, technical or academic expertise to help improve foundational AI models. Application engineering is about deploying AI into real uses such as copilots and knowledge bots. Roles are aimed at software developers, data scientists, engineers and business specialists, up to people with PhDs.
That's worth knowing before you apply. Turing isn't a casual tap-and-earn app. It wants people with real expertise, and much of the AI training work involves writing, checking and explaining code or specialist answers.
How to get accepted on Turing
The jobs page sets out 4 steps. You build a profile with your work history, skills and rate, then you get job recommendations or apply to open roles. Next come skill assessments and live interviews. If you pass, you start on a project with onboarding and ongoing support.
- Fill in your profile in full, including the rate you want, because Turing uses it for matching.
- Prepare for timed technical assessments in your main language or skill.
- Expect live interviews, and note the jobs page says strong written and spoken English is essential.
- Apply only through Turing's own site rather than through messages from strangers.
The process is selective, and that's a good sign rather than a bad one. A platform that tests people before it puts them on client work has a reason to protect its reputation.
Turing pay and contractor status
Here's the part I'd read twice. Turing's jobs page talks about competitive pay and about earning more for your expertise, and your profile includes your own rate, but it doesn't publish standard rates or explain how pay is set for each project. You'll see the terms when you're offered work.
The jobs page is clear on status, though. It says that as an independent contractor you're responsible for managing your tax obligations under local laws, that Turing doesn't provide visas, and that you should talk to a tax professional. In plain English, there's no employer sorting out tax, pension or sick pay for you.
TechCrunch reported that Turing works with about 4 million coders worldwide and has only a few hundred employees. That ratio tells you how the model works: a small core team and a very large pool of contractors, where being in the pool isn't the same as having a project.
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The honest catch with Turing
Most complaints about AI training platforms come down to the same few things, and Turing is no exception in principle. Assessments can take hours, projects can end when a client's needs change, and there may be quiet spells between contracts. None of that makes Turing a scam, but it does mean you shouldn't give up a steady income on the strength of an acceptance email.
Keep records of every contract, every invoice or pay statement and every hour you log. If you're new to working as a contractor, budget for tax from the first payment.
Fake Turing job offers
Big names attract impersonators. Turing's own jobs page describes applying through its site, building a profile and passing assessments and interviews. A message that skips all of that, offers a job straight away, or asks you to pay for training, equipment or a sign-up fee isn't following Turing's own process.
If you're contacted out of the blue, don't click links or share documents. Go to Turing's website directly, log in or apply there, and check whether the role exists.
Turing at a glance
| Question | Answer from the sources |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2018, per Business Wire |
| Base | Palo Alto, California, per TechCrunch |
| Latest reported funding | 111 million US dollar Series E at a 2.2 billion US dollar valuation |
| Kinds of work | AI advancement and application engineering |
| How you qualify | Profile, skill assessments and live interviews |
| Status | Independent contractor, own tax |
| Published pay rates | None on the jobs page |
Is Turing worth your time?
If you have strong coding or specialist skills, Turing is a real way to win remote AI and software projects with a well-funded company. Treat it as one income stream among several rather than a job for life. For more ways to search for remote roles without wasting a weekend, or to fit contract work around what you already do, see my side hustle ideas for people who already run a business.
Related: the engineering page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Turing legit?
Yes. Turing is a Palo Alto company founded in 2018 that hires developers and experts as remote contractors. TechCrunch reported it raised a 111 million US dollar Series E at a 2.2 billion US dollar valuation.
What does Turing do?
It supplies engineers and experts for AI and software projects. TechCrunch reported it helps model makers including OpenAI by generating code that improves model reasoning.
How do you get hired on Turing?
Its jobs page lists 4 steps: build a profile with your skills and rate, apply or get matched, complete skill assessments and live interviews, then start a project.
Are Turing workers employees?
No. Turing's jobs page says you work as an independent contractor and are responsible for your own tax under local laws.
How much does Turing pay?
Turing doesn't publish standard rates. Your profile includes the rate you want, and terms come with each project offer.
