People Team AI Ask about a date

How exposed to AI is a Cooks, Restaurant?

Of the 20 tasks O*NET lists for cooks, restaurant, 2 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 16 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Back Line CookBanquet CookBreakfast CookCookFry CookGrill CookLine CookPrep Cook (Preparation Cook)Prep Person (Preparation Person)Saucier
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
20
tasks rated for this occupation
0%
hold a degree, from a survey of 25
1194k
people do this job in the US
8 of 16
least protected in food preparation

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

2
  • Consult with supervisory staff to plan menus, taking into consideration factors such as costs and special event needs
  • Plan and price menu items

Only with software built on top

2
  • Estimate expected food consumption, requisition or purchase supplies, or procure food from storage
  • Keep records and accounts

Cannot be sped up

16
  • Inspect and clean food preparation areas, such as equipment, work surfaces, and serving areas, to ensure safe and sanitary food-handling practices
  • Ensure freshness of food and ingredients by checking for quality, keeping track of old and new items, and rotating stock
  • Ensure food is stored and cooked at correct temperature by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and roasters
  • Season and cook food according to recipes or personal judgment and experience
  • Turn or stir foods to ensure even cooking
  • Observe and test foods to determine if they have been cooked sufficiently, using methods such as tasting, smelling, or piercing them with utensils
  • Portion, arrange, and garnish food, and serve food to waiters or patrons
  • Weigh, measure, and mix ingredients according to recipes or personal judgment, using various kitchen utensils and equipment
  • Bake, roast, broil, and steam meats, fish, vegetables, and other foods
  • Wash, peel, cut, and seed fruits and vegetables to prepare them for consumption
  • Coordinate and supervise work of kitchen staff
  • Substitute for or assist other cooks during emergencies or rush periods
  • Prepare relishes and hors d'oeuvres
  • Carve and trim meats such as beef, veal, ham, pork, and lamb for hot or cold service, or for sandwiches
  • Bake breads, rolls, cakes, and pastries
  • Butcher and dress animals, fowl, or shellfish, or cut and bone meat prior to cooking
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.