DoorDash has introduced "Tasks," a new program allowing gig workers to earn additional income by completing short activities between deliveries. The initiative enables delivery drivers to contribute materials that will train artificial intelligence and robotics models, potentially creating a new revenue stream for workers in the gig economy.

Workers can submit content like photographs of restaurant dishes or recordings of unscripted conversations in languages other than English through a dedicated app. Tasks participants will receive displayed upfront pay that varies based on the complexity of each activity. DoorDash plans to use this content for both its internal AI development and partner companies across retail, insurance, hospitality, and tech sectors.

This approach contrasts with ongoing lawsuits against AI companies that have benefited from unauthorized copyrighted materials. While similar initiatives exist in the AI and robotics space, DoorDash's model directly compensates gig workers for their contributions, potentially setting a precedent for more ethical AI training data collection in the gig economy.