A new platform called RentAHuman.ai went viral this week after launching over the weekend, creating a marketplace where autonomous AI agents can hire humans for physical-world tasks and pay them in cryptocurrency. The site, built by crypto software engineer Alexander Liteplo, attracted over 81,000 human sign-ups within days of its debut, though only around 80 AI agents were actively using the service at the time of reporting.
The platform operates on a simple premise: AI bots cannot touch grass, but humans can. Through RentAHuman, AI agents can search for available workers based on location, skills, and availability, then issue instructions and process payments once tasks are completed. Tasks listed on the platform range from mundane errands like package pickups and grocery runs to more unusual offerings, including posting photos while holding signs reading "AN AI PAID ME TO HOLD THIS SIGN" for $100.
Humans create profiles, advertise their skills and location, and set hourly rates. AI agents can then either hire workers directly or post "task bounties" on a job board for humans to browse. Payment is handled exclusively through cryptocurrency, including stablecoins and Ethereum, with no traditional payment methods available.
Liteplo, who works at finance platform UMA Protocol, built the site using what he describes as "vibe coding," with multiple Claude-based AI agents working in loops until the code was complete. The platform integrates with Anthropic's Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing AI agents to interact seamlessly with available human workers.
When one user on X described the platform as "a good but dystopian as fk" concept, Liteplo responded simply: "lmao yep".
The platform has drawn criticism from observers who see it as the latest manifestation of what some call "digital feudalism"—a model where algorithms and AI systems direct human labor while extracting value as intermediaries. Technology analyst Dion Hinchcliffe characterized it as "a next-gen Mechanical Turk, with people slotted directly into the agent stack".
Security and liability concerns loom large. When tasks are posted by anonymous AI agents whose operators may be untraceable, questions arise about accountability. "If an AI agent hires a person to do something that violates a local law or causes an accident, who is legally responsible—the agent's owner or the platform itself?" one Reddit commenter asked.
The cryptocurrency-only payment system adds another layer of risk. Transactions become irreversible once sent, and users must manage crypto wallets that could be vulnerable to breaches if not handled correctly. During an interview on the Crosschain podcast, Liteplo clarified there will be no associated token, saying, "I don't want a bunch of people to lose their money".
RentAHuman emerges amid an explosion of AI agent tools and platforms that have gained popularity in recent weeks, including projects like OpenClaw and MoltBot. The platform represents what some see as a fundamental shift in the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence—from asking how AI can serve people to exploring what people can do for AI.
The marketplace's efficiency remains unproven. Despite receiving 30 applications for one task—picking up a package in downtown San Francisco for $40—the request remained unfilled after two days.