The delivery company DoorDash is now paying its couriers to help train artificial intelligence.
DoorDash has launched the new Tasks app, which gives couriers opportunities to get paid for “short activities” that help businesses gain “on-the-ground insights,” the San Francisco-based company announced Thursday.
Examples of these tasks could include “helping a restaurant showcase their menu by taking real photos of their dishes ... or giving an autonomous vehicle a hand getting back on the road,” the company said.
“The goal of Tasks is to help more businesses understand what’s happening on the ground and gather new insights, all while giving Dashers a new way to earn on their own terms,” Ethan Beatty, the general manager for DoorDash Tasks, said in a statement.
DoorDash also said it’s piloting a “new standalone app,” where users can get paid to “complete activities like filming everyday tasks or recording themselves speaking in another language.” That data will then help AI and robotics systems “understand the physical world,” according to the company.
For example, users may be prompted to film themselves folding laundry or washing dishes, according to Bloomberg News, which first reported on the company’s announcement. The recordings will be used to evaluate DoorDash’s own AI systems and those used by other partners, the outlet reported.
“We’re already partnering with companies across industries including retail, insurance, hospitality, and technology,” DoorDash said in its statement. “We plan to expand into more task types and countries over time.”
Both Tasks and the new app are available in select U.S. locations, excluding California, Colorado, New York City and Seattle, according to DoorDash. The Independent has contacted DoorDash for more information.
This comes just months after the rideshare app Uber announced it’s piloting a similar program, which allows drivers to get paid for completing “quick digital tasks” in their downtime.
“These simple tasks, like uploading photos to help train AI models, are already being tested in India and are now launching in the U.S.,” the company said in October.
