DoorDash has officially launched its new standalone app called "Tasks," designed to provide delivery couriers with opportunities to earn additional income while contributing to the advancement of artificial intelligence and robotics. Through this app, couriers can engage in various activities, such as filming routine tasks or recording themselves speaking in different languages, all aimed at enhancing AI understanding of the physical world.
According to DoorDash, the compensation for these tasks is transparently displayed upfront and is determined by the complexity and effort required for each assignment. The data collected will be instrumental in refining both DoorDash's proprietary AI models and those developed by its partners across sectors like retail, insurance, hospitality, and technology.
For instance, one of the tasks may involve a courier documenting their hand movements while washing dishes, ensuring that each clean dish is captured clearly on video. This approach not only supports the training of AI but also provides couriers with flexible earning opportunities.
DoorDash is not alone in this initiative; other companies, including Uber, have also begun utilizing their delivery workforce to assist in AI training by offering additional gigs such as uploading images for model training.
In addition to the Tasks app, couriers can find new digital tasks within the existing Dasher app. These tasks include photographing restaurant dishes to enhance menu visibility or capturing images of hotel entrances to aid in navigation for delivery drivers. Furthermore, DoorDash's collaboration with Waymo, where couriers are compensated for closing the doors of self-driving vehicles, is also featured as a task within the app.
Ethan Beatty, General Manager of DoorDash Tasks, expressed that the initiative aims to empower businesses by providing them with valuable insights while allowing couriers to earn income on their own terms. With over 8 million Dashers capable of reaching nearly any location in the U.S., this innovative model presents a unique opportunity to digitize and enhance the understanding of the physical world.
Currently, the Tasks app and its associated features are available in select U.S. locations, excluding states like California and New York City. DoorDash has plans to expand the range of tasks and geographical availability in the near future, indicating a commitment to innovation and adaptability in the gig economy.
