This Man Earns Rs 18,000 Per Hour From A Side Hustle, Works Just 3.5 Hours A Night, Earned Rs 2,69,00,000 In Just Months — He’s From….

The story of Utkarsh Amitabh, an Indian-origin entrepreneur based in the UK, highlights how artificial intelligence is creating high-paying opportunities worldwide. His journey shows how specialised AI skills can turn part-time work into a serious income stream.

In an interview with CNBC Make It, Amitabh revealed that he earns $200 an hour (around Rs 18,000) by working part-time on AI tools. What makes it more impressive is that he manages this alongside several other professional responsibilities.

Amitabh’s AI journey took a new turn in January 2025, when he was approached by a data-labelling startup called micro1. At the time, he was already juggling multiple roles, but the opportunity stood out for a different reason.

Beyond his AI work, Amitabh is an author, a university lecturer, and the founder and CEO of global mentorship platform Network Capital. He is also a PhD student at Oxford’s Saïd Business School and had just become a new father when the offer came his way.

Despite his packed schedule, Amitabh accepted the role out of what he calls “intellectual curiosity.” The work aligned well with his expertise in business strategy, financial modelling and technology, making it a natural extension of his interests rather than an extra burden.

The 34-year-old holds a degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in moral philosophy. He previously spent over six years at Microsoft, working on cloud computing and AI partnerships, and has also authored a book on the side-hustle economy.

Working around 3.5 hours each night, Amitabh has earned close to $300,000 (around Rs 2.69 crore) since January, excluding project completion bonuses. He says the flexibility of the role made it easier to fit into his already busy life.

While the pay is impressive, Amitabh says money was never his main motivation. He believes AI can empower people to upskill and adapt rather than replace them. According to him, artificial intelligence does far more good than harm when used thoughtfully.