Dazzle AI and Duckbill rely on humans to finish digital agent tasks
Startup leaders say AI models still struggle with phone calls and scheduling, so they hire contractors to step in when the software fails.
By Arjun Weber ·
Artificial intelligence agents are marketed as autonomous digital workers, but they often require human help to complete basic tasks.
Marissa Mayer, former Yahoo CEO and current head of Dazzle AI, stated that top-tier models from companies like Meta and OpenAI excel at finding online services. However, these systems frequently fail when asked to book appointments or negotiate phone calls. Dazzle uses human contractors to verify suggestions and handle complex scheduling.
Meghan Joyce, CEO of Duckbill, noted that digital assistants often hit barriers when tasks require real-world judgment. These include making phone calls or reserving cleaning services. To address this, Duckbill launched an API that allows companies to delegate tasks to human workers. The platform breaks down jobs into small pieces that average adults can perform reliably.
Joyce compared the model to Uber, where tasks are divided into atomic units. The company tracks the outcomes of these delegated actions. Mayer cited a specific incident where a Dazzle user tried to manage multiple home renovation projects. The AI agent confused window glass with tabletop glass. The system flagged the error and sent the task to a person. Mayer said the human resolved the issue within seconds, saving the agent from wasting computational resources.
Shivani Poddar, CEO of Wajo AI, is also integrating human workers to handle phone calls and CAPTCHA tests. Poddar argued that collaborative AI is necessary to complete jobs effectively. Users risk abandoning the technology if agents cannot finish tasks. Privacy concerns have arisen regarding this practice. Meta employees previously raised issues about using human contractors for its Muse agent. A Meta spokesperson described the testing as core to product development. Meta currently does not use humans for user requests.
Duckbill performs full background checks on its 1099 contractors. Joyce described these workers as U.S. residents seeking additional income, similar to drivers for Uber and DoorDash. The company also uses labor from contact center businesses. Mayer said Dazzle screens contractors for discretion and good judgment. She emphasized that the company does not hide the use of human assistance. Mayer called the current market a transitionary period until AI can perform web tasks as efficiently as people.
