DoorDash is expanding opportunities for its delivery drivers, now offering a recent way to earn income by contributing to the development of artificial intelligence. The company launched a standalone app called “Tasks” on Thursday, allowing its 8 million U.S. Gig workers to get paid for recording themselves performing everyday activities.
AI Training and the Gig Economy
The new app allows couriers to complete assignments designed to help AI and robotics systems better “understand the physical world.” Tasks range from recording oneself folding laundry or washing dishes to having natural conversations in another language – specifically, Spanish speakers are being asked to record unscripted conversations with friends and family.
Pay for these tasks is determined by the effort and complexity involved. DoorDash too plans to integrate similar “Tasks” into its existing Dasher app, including checking restaurant hours, photographing delivery locations, and assisting autonomous vehicles.
A Growing Trend
This move is part of a broader trend of companies leveraging gig workers to generate data for AI training. Uber piloted a similar program last year, and the data annotation industry has seen significant growth in recent years. Other companies, like Instawork and Sunday Robotics, are also employing innovative methods to collect physical data for AI development, including recruiting workers to record themselves doing chores and utilizing “skill capture gloves” to track movement.
DoorDash indicated that the “Tasks” app is currently a pilot program and will expand to include more task types and countries over time. The app is currently available in select U.S. Locations, excluding California, Colorado, New York City and Seattle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of tasks are available through the DoorDash Tasks app?
Tasks include everyday chores like folding clothes, handwashing dishes, and making a bed, as well as recording conversations in other languages. Tasks also include assisting with logistics, such as photographing delivery locations.
How will the data collected be used?
The data will be used to help AI and robotics models better “understand the physical world,” and will be used to evaluate both DoorDash’s in-house AI models and those developed by its partners.
Is the Tasks app available everywhere?
No, the app is currently available in select U.S. Locations, excluding California, Colorado, New York City and Seattle.
As AI technology continues to evolve, how might the roles and responsibilities of gig workers shift to accommodate the growing need for training data?
