DoorDash has launched a new mobile application called “Tasks” that allows its delivery couriers to earn money by completing small activities, such as recording videos of everyday actions or speaking in another language. The company confirmed the app’s release this week, stating it is designed to gather data for training artificial intelligence models. This initiative represents a significant expansion of the gig economy platform’s operations beyond food and grocery delivery.
App Functionality and Earning Potential
The “Tasks by DoorDash” app operates separately from the main DoorDash delivery platform. Within the app, couriers, known as Dashers, can browse and select from a list of available micro-tasks. These tasks primarily involve creating video or audio content. Examples include filming short clips of completing ordinary activities like opening a container or interacting with an object, or recording spoken phrases in a specific language.
Completion of each task results in a small payment, with amounts varying based on the task’s complexity and required time. DoorDash has stated that participation is entirely optional for its couriers, who can use the app to supplement their income from delivery work. The company has not disclosed the exact pay rates for individual tasks or the total investment in this data collection program.
Purpose and Data Use
According to official communications from DoorDash, the data collected through the “Tasks” app is intended for artificial intelligence research and development. The video and audio submissions will be used to train machine learning and computer vision algorithms. This type of real-world, human-performed data is valuable for improving AI systems’ understanding of physical environments, object manipulation, and language recognition.
The company emphasized that all data collection follows its privacy policies. It stated that personally identifiable information would be removed from the datasets used for AI training. Participants must agree to data usage terms before completing any tasks within the application.
Industry Context and Precedents
DoorDash’s move aligns with a broader trend of technology companies leveraging gig workforces for AI data annotation. Other major firms have used similar methods to generate labeled datasets necessary for advancing autonomous systems, large language models, and augmented reality features. This approach provides companies with scalable, diverse data input while creating a new income stream for contract workers.
The launch also highlights the evolving nature of gig work, where platforms increasingly offer a portfolio of micro-jobs beyond their core service. For couriers, this can mean more opportunities to earn but also raises questions about job fragmentation and the long-term implications of performing AI training tasks.
Forward Outlook and Implementation
DoorDash has indicated that the “Tasks” app is currently in a limited rollout phase, available to a select number of Dashers in the United States. The company plans to monitor the pilot program’s uptake and effectiveness before deciding on a wider release. Future development of the app may include a broader variety of task types based on the needs of its AI research teams.
Industry observers will be watching the program’s scale and the courier community’s response. The success of this initiative could influence whether other delivery and gig economy platforms adopt similar models to crowdsource AI training data, further blending human labor with machine learning development cycles.
Source: GeekWire
