DoorDash tests tasks that pay couriers to record video and audio for AI

In short: Delivery couriers are getting new side gigs that pay them to record short videos and voice clips that are used to train AI.

What's going on

Delivery work is starting to overlap with a different kind of gig, collecting data for AI. Some couriers are paid to film everyday activities, like walking a route, handling packages, or recording street views during a shift. Others are paid to record speech, like reading a short script or having a casual conversation in a specific language.

This material is used to train AI, meaning it helps software learn patterns from real life. It is similar to giving a student lots of practice examples. The AI can use those examples to get better at tasks like recognizing what a camera sees, understanding speech, or helping robots and self-driving systems navigate.

TechCrunch reports that DoorDash is launching a new tasks app that pays couriers for submissions used for AI training. The broader market already includes platforms like Remotasks, Appen, and Clickworker, which offer small jobs such as video recording and “data labeling” (adding notes to photos or clips so a computer can learn what is in them). Reported pay can vary widely, from per-task payments like $5 to $20 to hourly ranges around $10 to $30, depending on the job and whether the work is approved.

What to watch

These tasks can be an easy add-on for people who already spend time on the move, but they raise practical questions. Couriers will want clear rules on privacy, what can be recorded, and how footage is stored and used. It is also worth watching whether more delivery apps add opt-in programs, and whether these side tasks remain steady work or come and go based on how much training data AI companies need.

Source: TechCrunch AI