Will AI replace Food Preparation Workers?

AI can do 5% of the work Food Preparation Workers 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 26 physical tasks. 2 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 · 5% of time

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

  • Distribute food to waiters and waitresses to serve to customers.2% of time
  • Keep records of the quantities of food used.2% of time
  • Inform supervisors when equipment is not working properly and when food and supplies are getting low, and order needed items.2% of time

Robots can technically do this26 · 92% 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.

  • Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.Robots: purpose built settings10% of time
  • Wash, peel, and cut various foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to prepare for cooking or serving.Robots: purpose built settings10% of time
  • Prepare a variety of foods, such as meats, vegetables, or desserts, according to customers' orders or supervisors' instructions, following approved procedures.Robots: purpose built settings8% of time
  • Portion and wrap food, or place it directly on plates for service to patrons.Robots: purpose built settings5% of time
  • Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.Robots: purpose built settings5% of time
  • Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Weigh or measure ingredients.Robots: structured workplaces3% of time
  • Stock cupboards and refrigerators, and tend salad bars and buffet meals.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Prepare and serve a variety of beverages, such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Use manual or electric appliances to clean, peel, slice, and trim foods.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Load dishes, glasses, and tableware into dishwashing machines.Robots: structured workplaces3% of time
  • Mix ingredients for green salads, molded fruit salads, vegetable salads, and pasta salads.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Vacuum dining area and sweep and mop kitchen floor.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Assemble meal trays with foods in accordance with patients' diets.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Package take-out foods or serve food to customers.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Place food trays over food warmers for immediate service, or store them in refrigerated storage cabinets.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Receive and store food supplies, equipment, and utensils in refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage areas.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Make special dressings and sauces as condiments for sandwiches.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Scrape leftovers from dishes into garbage containers.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Stir and strain soups and sauces.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Butcher and clean fowl, fish, poultry, and shellfish to prepare for cooking or serving.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Cut, slice or grind meat, poultry, and seafood to prepare for cooking.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Add cutlery, napkins, food, and other items to trays on assembly lines in hospitals, cafeterias, airline kitchens, and similar establishments.Robots: structured workplaces2% of time
  • Operate cash register, handle money, and give correct change.Robots: structured workplaces2% of time

Still needs a person2 · 3% 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.

  • Distribute menus to hospital patients, collect diet sheets, and deliver food trays and snacks to nursing units or directly to patients.2% of time
  • Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.2% of time

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What this means

Little of this work suits AI. The bigger change here is robots: today's robots can technically do 93% 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 26 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 2 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria6%Cooks, Restaurant7%Cooks, Fast Food2%Cooks, Short Order0%Cooks, Private Household26%Baristas4%

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