DoorDash is launching a new “To Do” app that pays couriers to send AI training videos

DoorDash announced Thursday that it will launch a new, standalone “To Do” app that will allow the company to pay delivery couriers to complete tasks aimed at improving artificial intelligence and automated systems. DoorDash says delivery companies will be able to earn money by completing activities such as filming daily tasks or recording themselves speaking another language.

“This data helps artificial intelligence and robotic systems understand the physical world,” DoorDash wrote in a blog post. “The pay is offered up front and is determined based on the effort expended and the complexity of the activity.”

Bloomberg reports that original audio and video footage provided by workers will be used to evaluate the company’s internal AI models and those developed by its partners in the retail, insurance, hospitality and technology sectors.

One example of the task involves asking a courier to take footage of their hands washing at least five dishes while wearing a body camera, holding each clean dish in the frame for a few seconds before moving on to the next dish, Bloomberg reported.

DoorDash isn’t the only company tapping into its delivery workforce to train AI models. Late last year, Uber announced plans to let drivers earn extra income by completing small jobs, such as uploading photos to help train artificial intelligence models.

In addition to the standalone to-do app, delivery companies will see new digital “to-dos” included in the Dasher app. Examples include helping a restaurant showcase its menu by taking real photos of its dishes or taking photos of a hotel entrance so delivery drivers can find the delivery location more easily. DoorDash’s partnership with Waymo, where delivery couriers are paid to close the doors of self-driving cars, is also listed in the app as a task.

“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 make money on their own terms,” Ethan Beatty, general manager of DoorDash Tasks, said in the blog post. “There are more than 8 million Dashers who can get to almost anywhere in the U.S. and want to make money with flexibility beyond just delivery. This is a powerful ability to digitize the physical world.”

In-app Tasks and the standalone Tasks app are available in select locations in the US, excluding California, New York City, Seattle, and Colorado. DoorDash plans to expand to more task types and countries in the future.