AI exposure Food preparation and serving
Will AI replace fast food and counter workers?
Fast Food and Counter Workers. US occupation 35-3023.
The reading
0.0%
of the time fast food and counter workers spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of fast food and counter workers' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.
Ranked 346 of 756 US occupations. No AI use seen in the work yet, along with 410 other occupations.No handover started yet, along with 410 other occupations.
Per cent of working time Square-law scale
Average US job 7.7%
Among the least exposed jobs there are.Still waiting for liberation.
What AI already does for fast food and counter workersWhat fast food and counter workers no longer do alone
O*NET lists 46 tasks for fast food and counter workers. None of them shows meaningful AI use at work yet.
What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human
46 of the 46 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.
- Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary.Core task
- Balance receipts and payments in cash registers.Core task
- Brew coffee and tea, and fill containers with requested beverages.Core task
- Check temperatures of freezers, refrigerators, or heating equipment to ensure proper functioning.Core task
- Clean and organize eating, service, and kitchen areas.Core task
- Clean or sanitize work areas, utensils, or equipment.Core task
Show the other 40
- Clean service or seating areas.Core task
- Collect and return dirty dishes to the kitchen for washing.Core task
- Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints.Core task
- Deliver orders to kitchens, and pick up and serve food when it is ready.Core task
- Demonstrate the use of retail equipment, such as espresso machines.Core task
- Describe menu items to customers, or suggest products that might appeal to them.Core task
- Monitor and order supplies or food items, and restock as necessary to maintain inventory.Core task
- Order, receive, or stock supplies or retail products.Core task
- Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary.Core task
- Prepare and serve cold drinks, frozen milk drinks, or desserts, using drink-dispensing, milkshake, or frozen-custard machines.Core task
- 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.Core task
- Prepare or serve hot or cold beverages, such as coffee, espresso drinks, blended coffees, or teas.Core task
- Prepare or serve menu items, such as sandwiches or salads.Core task
- Provide customers with product details, such as coffee blend or preparation descriptions.Core task
- Receive and process customer payments.Core task
- Request and record customer orders, and compute bills, using cash registers, multi-counting machines, or pencil and paper.Core task
- Scrub and polish counters, steam tables, and other equipment, and clean glasses, dishes, and fountain equipment.Core task
- Serve customers in eating places that specialize in fast service and inexpensive carry-out food.Core task
- 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.Core task
- Serve prepared foods, such as muffins, biscotti, or bagels.Core task
- Set up dining areas for meals, and clear them following meals.Core task
- Set up or restock product displays.Core task
- Stock customer service stations with paper products or beverage preparation items.Core task
- Take customer orders and convey them to other employees for preparation.Core task
- Take out garbage.Core task
- Weigh, grind, or pack coffee beans for customers.Core task
- Wrap menu items such as sandwiches, hot entrees, and desserts for serving or for takeout.Core task
- Wrap, label, or date food items for sale.Core task
- Add relishes and garnishes to food orders, according to instructions.
- Arrange tables and decorations according to instructions.
- Create signs to advertise store products or events.
- Distribute food to servers.
- Notify kitchen personnel of shortages or special orders.
- Perform personnel activities, such as supervising and training employees.
- Plan, prepare, and deliver meals to individuals with special dietary needs.
- Replenish foods at serving stations.
- Select food items from serving or storage areas and place them in dishes, on serving trays, or in take-out bags.
- Slice fruits, vegetables, desserts, or meats for use in food service.
- Take customers' orders and write ordered items on tickets, giving ticket stubs to customers when needed to identify filled orders.
- Wash dishes, glassware, and silverware after meals.
How that compares
Among the 15 food preparation and serving occupations, fast food and counter workers rank 12. The group averages 0.9%, and its most exposed job is Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop at 7.3%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.
Level with 0.0%
What this does and does not mean
Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.
A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.
Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.