DoorDash Launches ‘Tasks’ App for AI Training Jobs

DoorDash is expanding the role of its delivery workforce by introducing a new, dedicated “Tasks” application. The platform allows couriers to generate additional income by completing specific assignments designed to refine artificial intelligence and robotic technologies.

The initiative, announced on Thursday, moves beyond standard food delivery. Couriers can earn money by performing activities such as recording themselves speaking different languages or capturing video footage of everyday physical actions.

How the Data is Used

According to Bloomberg, the media collected from these workers serves to train both internal DoorDash AI models and those developed by corporate partners in sectors like insurance, hospitality, and retail. The company stated that payments are determined upfront, based on the complexity and effort required for each individual assignment.

One specific example of these tasks involves a courier using a body camera to film their hands while washing at least five dishes, ensuring each item is held in frame for a set duration before proceeding to the next.

Expanding Beyond Delivery

In addition to the standalone app, users will see task integration directly within the primary Dasher app. These opportunities include:

• Taking high-quality photos of restaurant menus to improve local listings.
• Capturing images of hotel entrances to assist drivers with navigation and drop-off locations.
• Collaborating with Waymo, where workers are paid to close the doors of autonomous vehicles.

Ethan Beatty, general manager of DoorDash Tasks, highlighted the scale of the company’s workforce as a strategic asset. “There are more than 8 million Dashers who can reach almost anywhere in the U.S. and who want to earn flexibly beyond delivery,” Beatty noted. “That’s a powerful capability to digitize the physical world.”

Regional Availability

The program is currently rolling out in select U.S. markets. However, DoorDash has confirmed that the service is excluded from California, New York City, Seattle, and Colorado for the time being. The company intends to broaden the scope of task types and expand into international markets in the future.

DoorDash is following a broader industry trend of gig-economy platforms leveraging their drivers for machine learning data. For instance, Uber announced a similar strategy late last year, offering drivers the ability to complete small jobs like photo uploading to support AI training initiatives.