Your guide to gig work, whether it's your side hustle or main source of income

Gig work has never been more widespread — and more challenging.

Over the past decade and a half, millions of workers have become ride-hailing drivers for Uber or delivered groceries for Instacart. For some, it's a side-hustle, while others rely on it as their primary source of income.

The model is also expanding to new professions and types of work, as evidenced by Uber's AI training efforts.

But as more people have entered the fray, pay for many gigs has fallen over the last several years, some gig workers have told Business Insider. That's made it more important for workers to manage their time and be selective about the work they take on, they said.

Some have turned to third-party apps that advise workers on which rides or deliveries are the most profitable — a trick that companies Uber and Lyft have said violates their terms of service.

Others are trying to cut out the established apps entirely in favor of upstart versions, such as local cooperatives run by ride-hailing drivers themselves. Some have even launched their own black-car services.

Over the last several months, however, a new challenge to conventional gig work has emerged: self-driving cars developed by Tesla and Waymo.

While some drivers say they're waiting to see if robotaxis actually roll out as widely as advertised, others are considering whether owning self-driving taxis themselves might be an option when human drivers are no longer needed.

Business Insider has spoken with drivers, delivery workers, executives, and others in the world of gig work. Read on to see our latest coverage of the space.

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