DoorDash announced on Thursday the launch of a new, standalone “Tasks” app that allows the company to pay delivery couriers for assignments aimed at enhancing AI and robotic systems. Couriers can earn money by completing tasks such as filming everyday activities or recording themselves speaking in different languages, according to DoorDash.
“This data helps AI and robotic systems understand the physical world,” DoorDash wrote in a blog post. “Pay is shown upfront and determined based on effort and complexity of the activity.”
Bloomberg reports that original audio and video footage submitted by workers will be used to assess both the company’s in-house AI models and those developed by partners in the retail, insurance, hospitality, and technology sectors.
An example task involves having a courier capture footage of washing dishes while wearing a body camera, showcasing each clean dish for a few seconds, Bloomberg reports.
DoorDash isn’t the only company using its delivery workforce to train AI models. Last year, Uber announced plans for drivers to earn extra income by completing small jobs, such as uploading photos to help train AI models.
In addition to the standalone Tasks app, new digital “Tasks” will be listed on the Dasher app. These include helping restaurants showcase their menu by photographing dishes or taking photos of a hotel entrance to assist with deliveries. DoorDash’s partnership with Waymo, which involves paying couriers to close the doors of self-driving cars, is also included as a task.
“The goal of Tasks is to help businesses understand what’s happening on the ground and gather new insights, while giving Dashers a way to earn on their own terms,” said Ethan Beatty, General Manager, DoorDash Tasks, in the blog post. “There are more than 8 million Dashers who can reach almost anywhere in the U.S. and want to earn flexibly beyond delivery. That’s a powerful capability to digitize the physical world.”
The in-app Tasks and the standalone Tasks app are available in select areas in the U.S., excluding California, New York City, Seattle, and Colorado. DoorDash plans to expand into more task types and countries in the future.