Insightful is the time tracker Mercor requires on hourly projects. It used to be called Workpuls, and Mercor's setup guide says the desktop app still carries that name. It records your hours, active and idle time and the apps and sites you use while you're clocked in. It never records keystrokes, audio or your webcam.
Apply to Platforms That Use Insightful
Expert AI training projects. Hourly work is tracked in Insightful too.
What Insightful Tracks
| What it records | Insightful |
|---|---|
| Hours worked | Yes, only while clocked in |
| Active and idle time | Yes, idle after 2 minutes by default |
| Apps and websites | Yes, time on each |
| Productive time | Apps and sites labeled productive or not |
| Screenshots | Off unless an admin turns them on |
| Keystrokes | No |
| Audio and webcam | No |
| Screen video | Paid add-on, off by default |
On a personal computer, Insightful only tracks while you're clocked in. Turn the timer off and it records nothing.
How Idle and Productive Time Work
By default, Insightful counts you as idle after 2 minutes with no keyboard input, clicks or scrolls. Moving the mouse alone doesn't count. Admins can change that threshold.
Insightful also labels apps and websites as productive or unproductive. SME Careers pays for Active Time only, which leaves out idle and unproductive time, such as social media, YouTube or AI tools your project doesn't allow.
Screenshots
Screenshots stay off unless an admin turns them on. The admin picks how many per hour, and Insightful takes them at random times within that rate.
Mercor says Insightful may take periodic screenshots to confirm you're working. Screen recording is a separate paid add-on, off by default, with no audio. Mercor's docs don't mention it.
How to Install Insightful for Mercor
- Download Insightful from its download page. You don't need to wait for an invite email.
- Sign in. If your account uses Mercor single sign-on, click Continue with SSO, enter your @mercor.expert email and log in to Okta. Otherwise use your personal email and Insightful password.
- Wait for your project to show up. It can take 12 to 24 hours after you're assigned.
- Pick the project and task, click Play to start tracking, and stop it when you pause or finish.
You can be clocked in on only one device at a time. Hours don't sync while you're offline. Insightful runs on Windows 10 or later and macOS 11 or later, with Linux in beta. Chromebooks, iPads and phones aren't supported.
Mercor's Time Tracking Rules
- Legitimate time recorded in Insightful is paid by default.
- Don't add time manually. If you missed time, take it to your project lead with evidence. It's handled case by case.
- Don't leave the timer running while idle or doing unrelated tasks.
- Low-quality work doesn't cancel hours already logged, though it can end the assignment.
- Hours can be withheld only for policy violations, spam or bad faith, or logging time while not working. Mercor says those decisions are never automatic.
- Mercor enforces a weekly hours cap, and only your project lead or Mercor can change your Insightful hour limit.
- To dispute missing hours, contact your project lead with evidence within the following pay period. The decision is final.
If your hours in Insightful and Mercor don't match, it's the time zone. Switch Insightful to Org Time Zone (IST) to see Mercor's breakdown.
Mercor bans inflating hours with simulated activity and any software that masks or manipulates Insightful. Faking activity breaks the rules.
Privacy Tips
- Use a separate browser profile or computer account for work, with only work apps in it.
- Close personal tabs and any AI tools your project doesn't allow before you clock in.
- Clock out for breaks instead of leaving the timer running.
- Keep your own note of task links with start and end times, in case you need to dispute hours.
Other Platforms That Use Insightful
SME Careers tracks hourly projects in Insightful too. micro1, Outlier and Alignerr use Hubstaff instead. Our Hubstaff guide for AI trainers covers it. To find hourly roles that fit you, try the AI Training Job Matcher.
Apply to Platforms That Use Insightful
Expert AI training projects. Hourly work is tracked in Insightful too.
Insightful on Mercor FAQ
What Is Workpuls?
Workpuls is the old name of Insightful, a time tracker. Mercor's setup guide says the desktop app is still named Workpuls.
Does Mercor Use Insightful?
Yes. Mercor says Insightful is the official time tracker required for its projects, and legitimate time it records is paid by default.
Does Insightful Take Screenshots on Mercor?
Mercor says Insightful may take periodic screenshots to confirm you're working. Insightful takes them at random times, at a rate the admin sets.
Does Insightful Record Audio or Your Webcam?
No. Insightful says it never records keystrokes, passwords, message or document content, your webcam or your microphone.
Does Insightful Record Your Screen?
Screen recording is a paid add-on that is off by default and records no audio. Mercor's docs mention screenshots, not screen recording.
What Counts as Idle Time in Insightful?
By default, 2 minutes with no keyboard input, clicks or scrolls. Moving the mouse alone doesn't count as activity.
Can You Add Time Manually on Mercor?
Mercor says not to. If you missed time, raise it with your project lead with evidence. It's handled case by case.
Sources: Mercor talent docs (time tracking and pay, Insightful setup, account security and conduct); Insightful help center and site; SME Careers docs; r/mercor_ai.
Some links on this page are referral links.
Hubstaff for AI Trainers: What It Tracks, Idle Time and Screenshots