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AI exposure Food preparation and serving

Will AI replace waiters and waitresses?

Waiters and Waitresses. US occupation 35-3031.

0.0%

of the time waiters and waitresses spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of waiters and waitresses' 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.

Average US job 7.7%

Among the least exposed jobs there are.Still waiting for liberation.

What AI already does for waiters and waitressesWhat waiters and waitresses no longer do alone

O*NET lists 25 tasks for waiters and waitresses. None of them shows meaningful AI use at work yet.

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

25 of the 25 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

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

How that compares

Among the 15 food preparation and serving occupations, waiters and waitresses rank 15. 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%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Level with 0.0%

  1. 346Upholsterers 0.0%
  2. 346Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers 0.0%
  3. 346Veterinary Technologists and Technicians 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.