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How exposed to AI is a Fast Food and Counter Worker?

Of the 28 tasks O*NET lists for fast food and counter workers, 1 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 24 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
Cafe ServerCafeteria ServerCafeteria WorkerCounter WorkerDeli Worker (Delicatessen Worker)Dietary AideFood ServerFood Service WorkerServerSnack Bar Attendant
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
28
tasks rated for this occupation
0%
hold a degree, from a survey of 37
3095k
people do this job in the US
11 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

1
  • Take customers' orders and write ordered items on tickets, giving ticket stubs to customers when needed to identify filled orders

Only with software built on top

3
  • Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints
  • Balance receipts and payments in cash registers
  • Arrange reservations for patrons of dining establishments

Cannot be sped up

24
  • Scrub and polish counters, steam tables, and other equipment, and clean glasses, dishes, and fountain equipment
  • Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary
  • Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary
  • Request and record customer orders, and compute bills, using cash registers, multi-counting machines, or pencil and paper
  • Serve food, beverages, or desserts to customers in such settings as take-out counters of restaurants or lunchrooms, business or industrial establishments, hotel rooms, and cars
  • Prepare daily food items, and cook simple foods and beverages, such as sandwiches, salads, soups, pizza, or coffee, using proper safety precautions and sanitary measures
  • Clean and organize eating, service, and kitchen areas
  • Monitor and order supplies or food items, and restock as necessary to maintain inventory
  • Brew coffee and tea, and fill containers with requested beverages
  • Serve customers in eating places that specialize in fast service and inexpensive carry-out food
  • Collect and return dirty dishes to the kitchen for washing
  • Wash dishes, glassware, and silverware after meals
  • Wrap menu items such as sandwiches, hot entrees, and desserts for serving or for takeout
  • Notify kitchen personnel of shortages or special orders
  • Prepare and serve cold drinks, frozen milk drinks, or desserts, using drink-dispensing, milkshake, or frozen-custard machines
  • Select food items from serving or storage areas and place them in dishes, on serving trays, or in take-out bags
  • Replenish foods at serving stations
  • Perform personnel activities, such as supervising and training employees
  • Distribute food to servers
  • Set up dining areas for meals, and clear them following meals
  • Add relishes and garnishes to food orders, according to instructions
  • Deliver orders to kitchens, and pick up and serve food when it is ready
  • Arrange tables and decorations according to instructions
  • Plan, prepare, and deliver meals to individuals with special dietary needs
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.