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How exposed to AI is a Waiters and Waitresse?

Of the 25 tasks O*NET lists for waiters and waitresses, 5 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 19 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
Banquet ServerBusserCocktail ServerFood RunnerFood ServerRestaurant ServerRoom Service ServerServerWaiterWaitress
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
25
tasks rated for this occupation
0%
hold a degree, from a survey of 35
1804k
people do this job in the US
5 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

5
  • Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request
  • Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods
  • Inform customers of daily specials
  • Describe and recommend wines to customers
  • Provide guests with information about local areas, including directions

Only with software built on top

1
  • Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems

Cannot be sped up

19
  • Take orders from patrons for food or beverages
  • Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages
  • Collect payments from customers
  • Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff
  • Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes
  • Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning
  • Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required
  • Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining
  • Prepare tables for meals, including setting up items such as linens, silverware, and glassware
  • Assist host or hostess by answering phones to take reservations or to-go orders, and by greeting, seating, and thanking guests
  • Escort customers to their tables
  • Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming carpet, tidying up server station, taking out trash, or checking and cleaning bathroom
  • Prepare hot, cold, and mixed drinks for patrons, and chill bottles of wine
  • Roll silverware, set up food stations, or set up dining areas to prepare for the next shift or for large parties
  • Stock service areas with supplies such as coffee, food, tableware, and linens
  • Bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses, and pour the wines for customers
  • Fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers
  • Perform food preparation duties, such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee
  • Garnish and decorate dishes in preparation for serving
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.