Amazon is shutting down its crowdsourced work platform Mechanical Turk (MTurk), with the service set to close in September, according to notices posted on the MTurk website. MTurk, which launched in 2005, matches workers with small digital tasks that can be completed online for pay.
Multiple outlets describe MTurk as a long-running platform used for “simple” or small tasks, and Quartz notes it once served more than 500,000 workers. PYMNTS reports Amazon says it regularly evaluates its programs, tools, and services and makes adjustments based on those assessments, and that it has decided to close the service following that review.
While all outlets agree on the closure timing and the platform’s purpose, they emphasize different context and scale: Quartz highlights the platform’s 21-year history and large past user base, Rappler focuses on the original launch and matching of workers to tasks, and PYMNTS concentrates on Amazon’s explanation for ending the program. Seeking Alpha likewise reports the shutdown but provides no additional details in the excerpt provided.
