DoorDash is paying people to load its delivery robots. It points to a shortcoming of automation

DoorDash is compensating gig workers to load its delivery robots with restaurant orders. The company operates the Dot delivery robot, which can't physically pick up orders from restaurants. DoorDash is offering these loading gigs to meet demand during busy periods, particularly in areas where the Dot robot operates in the Phoenix area.

DoorDash gig worker Devena Bybee in Mesa, Arizona, received an offer to load an order from a restaurant into a Dot robot and was paid around $5 for the task. Similar gig offers have been posted on DoorDash workers' Facebook groups. DoorDash spokesperson stated that the loading gigs are designed to support merchants during busy periods and create additional earning opportunities for Dashers outside of traditional deliveries.

However, some workers find this inefficient and question its effectiveness. The loading gigs are part of automation challenges, as restaurant workers receiving lots of robot-delivered orders might incentivize outsourcing this task to DoorDash. DoorDash CEO Tony Xu mentioned that handing off orders from restaurants to robots is a challenge to the rollout of autonomous deliveries.