DoorDash Tasks (about.doordash.com)

by ChrisArchitect 91 comments 77 points
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91 comments

[−] simonw 55d ago

> Tasks and the new app are currently available in select places in the U.S., excluding California, New York City, Seattle and Colorado.

Anyone know why that is?

(Claude thinks it's because those places have gig worker protection laws such that "classifying Dashers as independent contractors for non-delivery work is most legally risky")

[−] hhh 55d ago
There was a startup that did this in the mid 2010s named Magic, but was just via SMS. I used it a few times to get random things done, and it was really useful when it was cheap, then it became mega expensive.
[−] jimiasty 55d ago
Interesting - same concept as Amazon Mechanical Turk when you could crowdsource tasks
[−] codemog 55d ago
Meta doesn’t even need to use this, they’re just going to be constantly recording all video and audio from those rayban glasses ;)

Smart move, Zuck.

[−] Ekaros 55d ago
I wonder who can give tasks. And how do they combat potential abuse cases. Surely there is lot of tasks that can be exploited for more nefarious purposes. Or just simply exploiting those that would do the tasks.
[−] mandeepj 54d ago

> restaurant showcase their menu by taking real photos of their dishes,

Not sure if I follow all that! What’s a real photo? So, no one from a restaurant can take a photo of their own dish which they just made?

> helping a hotel make sure a delivery driver can find a drop-off location by taking photos of the hotel entrance

Hotel staff can’t update Yelp, Google Maps location with the info? Or can’t drivers call the hotel or location? Also, it seems to be a very infrequent occurrence, Once per driver maybe?

[−] seattle_spring 54d ago
Interesting. Seems similar to what Premise Data tried to do, and maybe would have succeeded had it not been for their slimeball CEO cratering their reputation https://jackpoulson.substack.com/p/the-covert-gig-work-surve...
[−] PUSH_AX 55d ago
So they’re training a model
[−] nmacias 55d ago
So, Quri (2009, now part of Trax), which was the startup copy of Proctor & Gamble's retail intelligence operations. But now like a sponge for any AI budgets not earmarked for hardware.
[−] wxw 55d ago
Neat product expansion. Isn’t this what store employees are already doing though? Maybe it’s more for building datasets.
[−] johnisgood 55d ago
Are they supposed to open the food in order to take photos of it?!
[−] _doctor_love 55d ago
I had a terrible thought while out on a hike the other day. I'm almost loath to post it on HN because I worry some idiot is going to read it and think it's a good idea. On the other hand, if I thought of it, it's just a matter of time before someone else does.

Here is the idea: programmers may move to a DoorDash like model as well in the future. You may have full time employment but it will be at a much lower base salary than in the past.

Instead of working on "stories" you will work "contracts."

So someone wants feature X or system Y, that's a contract. You get paid on delivery.

Meaning, since it will become possible to build more complete / fleshed out things with enough requirements and so forth with the use of AI, the best programmers will really be the best 'coding drone operators.' Whoever can get the most jobs done in the shortest amount of time at the highest quality for the least tokens, they'll rule the roost.

Real compensation will then happen in terms of boosts to the base salary for getting contracts done, similar to how many execs are paid a low salary and then are expected to earn their keep by the bonuses and equity the earn for delivering results. (Yes, I know, delivering results, har har).

[−] cheesecompiler 55d ago
Labour getting ever-granular in the age of micro-loans and RentAHuman.

> "Dashers have a new way to earn on their own terms"

The classic meaning inversion of precariousness and lack of benefits as a virtue.

[−] cdrnsf 55d ago
Introducing DoorDash Deskilling.