DoorDash unveiled a new, dedicated “Tasks” application on Thursday, designed to compensate its delivery couriers for undertaking assignments that enhance AI and robotics development. According to DoorDash, these tasks could involve couriers earning income by filming routine activities or recording themselves speaking in various languages.
In a blog post, DoorDash explained, “This information assists AI and robotic platforms in comprehending the physical environment.” The company also noted that compensation is displayed beforehand and is calculated based on the task’s difficulty and required effort.
Bloomberg reports that the raw audio and video contributions from workers are intended for assessing DoorDash’s proprietary AI models, as well as those created by its collaborators across the retail, insurance, hospitality, and technology industries.
Bloomberg provided an illustration of a task: a courier might be asked to use a body camera to film their hands washing a minimum of five dishes, ensuring each clean dish is visible for several seconds before proceeding.
DoorDash is not alone in leveraging its delivery personnel for AI model training. Toward the end of last year, Uber revealed its intention to offer drivers additional earning opportunities through minor tasks, like submitting photos for AI model development.
Beyond the dedicated Tasks application, new digital “Tasks” will also appear within the Dasher app for delivery couriers. These might involve assisting a restaurant by capturing authentic photos of its menu items or photographing a hotel entrance to simplify locating drop-off points for drivers. The app also features DoorDash’s collaboration with Waymo, which compensates delivery couriers for closing the doors of self-driving vehicles, as a listed task.
Ethan Beatty, General Manager of DoorDash Tasks, stated in the blog post, “The purpose of Tasks is to assist a wider range of businesses in comprehending on-the-ground situations and acquiring fresh insights, simultaneously offering Dashers an additional avenue for flexible earnings.” He added, “With over 8 million Dashers capable of reaching nearly every part of the U.S. and desiring flexible income opportunities beyond deliveries, this represents a significant capacity to digitize the real world.”
Both the in-app tasks and the separate Tasks application are currently accessible in specific U.S. locations, with the exceptions of California, New York City, Seattle, and Colorado. DoorDash intends to broaden the range of task categories and geographical availability to additional countries eventually.