DoorDash is expanding its use of gig workers by paying couriers to complete digital tasks and submit video and audio data to help train robotics and AI systems.

The company has introduced a new app, Tasks, offering paid assignments such as recording unscripted conversations in Spanish or filming everyday activities like washing dishes or folding clothes. The collected data will be used to evaluate DoorDash’s internal AI models as well as systems used by partners across industries, including retail, insurance, hospitality, and technology.

DoorDash said it is leveraging its U.S. network of around 8 million contractors to meet growing demand for high-quality, real-world datasets needed to train specialized AI models.

In addition to the standalone app, new tasks are being added to the main courier platform. These include photographing food for digital menus, capturing images of hotel entrances for delivery guidance, and scanning store shelves for inventory checks. A pilot program with Waymo, in which drivers are paid to assist robotaxis, is also part of the initiative.

The program is available in select U.S. markets, excluding heavily regulated regions such as California, New York City, Seattle, and Colorado. DoorDash said it plans to expand the range of tasks and geographic coverage over time.

“These are the kinds of real-world problems we’ve been solving for over a decade, and we realized the same capabilities that helped us could help other businesses too,” said Ethan Beatty, general manager of DoorDash Tasks. “The goal of Tasks is to help more businesses understand what’s happening on the ground and gather new insights.”

The initiative aligns with DoorDash’s broader push into AI-driven services, including investments in chatbots, autonomous delivery, and expanded grocery and retail offerings.