DoorDash is rolling out a new program that directly leverages its delivery workforce to improve artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic systems. The company’s “Tasks” app and integrated in-app features now allow couriers to earn money by submitting video and audio data for AI training purposes.
How the Program Works
The core idea is simple: couriers are paid to perform everyday actions while recording them. This includes tasks like filming hand movements while washing dishes, speaking phrases in different languages, or capturing images of specific locations (hotel entrances, restaurant menus). The pay is predetermined and scales with the complexity of the assignment. DoorDash emphasizes that this data helps AI models learn to better understand the physical world.
Beyond DoorDash: A Growing Trend
This isn’t an isolated move. Uber has already announced similar plans to pay drivers for AI training tasks, like uploading photos for model evaluation. The trend highlights a broader strategy where gig economy workers are increasingly becoming data providers for AI development.
Data Applications and Partnerships
The footage collected will be used to refine DoorDash’s own AI systems, as well as those of its partners in retail, insurance, hospitality, and tech. One example cited involves couriers paid to demonstrate tasks for self-driving cars: closing doors of Waymo vehicles.
Strategic Implications
DoorDash sees this as a way to “digitize the physical world” by tapping into its vast network of over 8 million couriers. The company claims this offers a flexible earning opportunity for Dashers while providing businesses with unique insights. The initial rollout excludes California, New York City, Seattle, and Colorado, but expansion is planned for more locations and task types.
This program illustrates how gig economy platforms are evolving from simple delivery services into data harvesting operations. While offering couriers additional income, it also raises questions about the future of work and the value of human labor in AI development.
