DoorDash was announced on Thursday is launching a new, standalone “Tasks” app that will let the company pay its couriers to complete tasks aimed at improving artificial intelligence and robotic systems. Delivery couriers will be able to earn money by completing activities such as filming daily tasks or recording themselves speaking in another language, DoorDash says.
“This data helps artificial intelligence and robotic systems understand the physical world,” DoorDash wrote in a blog post. “Payment appears up front and is determined based on the effort and complexity of the activity.”
Bloomberg states that the original audio and video footage submitted by employees will be used to evaluate both the company’s internal AI models and those developed by its partners in the retail, insurance, hospitality and technology sectors.
One example of work involves asking a courier to film his hands washing at least five dishes while wearing a body camera, keeping each clean dish in the frame for a few seconds before moving on to the next, Bloomberg reports.
DoorDash isn’t the only company leveraging its delivery workforce to train AI models. At the end of last year, Uber announced plans to allow drivers to earn extra income by completing small tasks, such as uploading photos to help train AI models.
In addition to the standalone Tasks app, delivery couriers will see new digital “Tasks” listed in the Dasher app. Examples include helping a restaurant showcase its menu by taking real photos of its dishes or photographing a hotel entrance so drivers can find the delivery location more easily. DoorDash’s partnership with Waymo, where couriers are paid to close the doors of self-driving cars, is also listed on the app as a job.
“The goal of Tasks is to help more businesses understand what’s happening in the area and gather new information, while giving Dashers a new 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 US and want to earn flexibly beyond delivery. This is a powerful ability to digitize the physical world.”
In-app Jobs and the standalone Jobs app are available in select locations in the US, except for California, New York, Seattle, and Colorado. DoorDash plans to expand to more business types and countries in the future.
