Handshake AI Withholds Contractors' Unpaid Wages

Contractors who worked on OpenAI projects say Handshake AI suspended their accounts between late December and January and withheld thousands of dollars in pay. Handshake told some workers they violated contract terms—citing credential discrepancies, slower-than-benchmark task times, or non-US tasking—and denied payment with no appeal, while contractors and lawsuits allege wrongful withholding. The dispute highlights legal and labor risks in the AI data-labeling industry.