Will AI replace Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria?

AI can do 6% of the work Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria do at least twice as fast. Real use has not caught up: none of their tasks show up in real AI use yet, but AI could speed up 3 of them. Robots can technically handle 8 physical tasks. 6 still need a person.

AI is already doing this0 · 0% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Real AI use has not reached any of this job's tasks yet.

AI could do this next3 · 6% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • Monitor and record food temperatures to ensure food safety.3% of time
  • Compile and maintain records of food use and expenditures.1% of time
  • Plan menus that are varied, nutritionally balanced, and appetizing, taking advantage of foods in season and local availability.1% of time

Robots can technically do this8 · 84% of time

Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.

  • Cook foodstuffs according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served.Robots: purpose built settings34% of time
  • Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons.Robots: purpose built settings12% of time
  • Clean and inspect galley equipment, kitchen appliances, and work areas to ensure cleanliness and functional operation.Robots: purpose built settings10% of time
  • Wash pots, pans, dishes, utensils, or other cooking equipment.Robots: purpose built settings9% of time
  • Clean, cut, and cook meat, fish, or poultry.Robots: purpose built settings7% of time
  • Rotate and store food supplies.Robots: purpose built settings6% of time
  • Bake breads, rolls, or other pastries.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Take inventory of supplies and equipment.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time

Still needs a person6 · 10% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Direct activities of one or more workers who assist in preparing and serving meals.4% of time
  • Monitor use of government food commodities to ensure that proper procedures are followed.1% of time
  • Train new employees.1% of time
  • Monitor menus and spending to ensure that meals are prepared economically.1% of time
  • Requisition food supplies, kitchen equipment, and appliances, based on estimates of future needs.1% of time
  • Determine meal prices, based on calculations of ingredient prices.under 1% of time

Your week is not the average

Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.

Get my personal report

What this means

Little of this work suits AI. The bigger change here is robots: today's robots can technically do 87% of the working time, though they are rarely cheap enough to replace people yet.

What to do next

  • Get ahead on the 3 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Keep an eye on the 8 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 6 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Cooks, Fast Food2%Cooks, Private Household26%Cooks, Restaurant7%Cooks, Short Order0%Food Preparation Workers5%Baristas4%

Get the weekly brief

One short email a week on how AI is changing work, including jobs like this one.

Check another job