On Thursday, DoorDash revealed the launch of a new, independent “Tasks” application that will enable the company to compensate its delivery couriers for carrying out tasks designed to enhance AI and robotic technologies. According to DoorDash, delivery couriers can earn money by engaging in activities such as recording everyday routines or speaking in different languages.
“This data aids AI and robotic systems in comprehending the physical environment,” DoorDash stated in a blog entry. “Compensation is provided upfront and is based on the effort and complexity of the task.”
Bloomberg notes that the original audio and video clips submitted by employees will be utilized to assess both the company’s proprietary AI models and those created by its partners in sectors like retail, insurance, hospitality, and technology.
One task example involves instructing a courier to record themselves washing at least five dishes while outfitted with a body camera, ensuring each clean dish is displayed in the frame for a few seconds before proceeding to the next, according to Bloomberg.
DoorDash is not the sole company leveraging its delivery staff to train AI systems. Late last year, Uber revealed intentions to allow drivers to earn additional income by completing minor tasks, such as uploading images to assist in training AI models.
Alongside the separate Tasks app, delivery couriers will see newly introduced digital “Tasks” in the Dasher application. These consist of activities such as assisting restaurants in showcasing their menus through genuine photographs of their meals or capturing images of hotel entrances to facilitate easier drop-off for delivery drivers. The partnership between DoorDash and Waymo, wherein couriers are incentivized to close self-driving car doors, is also featured in the app as a task.
“Tasks aim to help businesses gain better insights into on-ground realities while providing Dashers with flexible earning opportunities,” stated Ethan Beatty, General Manager of DoorDash Tasks, in the blog post. “With over 8 million Dashers capable of reaching nearly any location across the U.S. and seeking to earn beyond deliveries, this represents a significant opportunity to digitize the physical landscape.”
Both the in-app Tasks and the independent Tasks app are accessible in select locations throughout the U.S., excluding California, New York City, Seattle, and Colorado. DoorDash intends to broaden the types of tasks and expand to additional countries in the future.