Cooks, Restaurant
Also called: cook, line, back line cook, banquet cook, breakfast cook
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Weigh, measure, and mix ingredients according to recipes or personal judgment, using various kitchen utensils and equipment
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing cooks, restaurant work
3 of 14 main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Green (little AI use so far) — 21% when main tasks are weighted. This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Weigh, measure, and mix ingredients according to recipes or personal judgment, using various kitchen utensils and equipment (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Bake, roast, broil, and steam meats, fish, vegetables, and other foods (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Turn or stir foods to make sure even cooking (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Make sure food is stored and cooked at correct temperature by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and roasters (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Inspect and clean food preparation areas (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Portion, arrange, and garnish food, and serve food to waiters or patrons (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Make sure freshness of food and ingredients by checking for quality, keeping track of old and new items, and rotating stock (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Season and cook food according to recipes or personal judgment and experience (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Coordinate and supervise work of kitchen staff (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Observe and test foods to determine if they have been cooked sufficiently, using methods such as tasting, smelling, or piercing them with utensils (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Substitute for or assist other cooks during emergencies or rush periods (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Wash, peel, cut, and seed fruits and vegetables to prepare them for consumption (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Bake breads, rolls, cakes, and pastries (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Carve and trim meats such as beef, veal, ham, pork, and lamb for hot or cold service, or for sandwiches (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Plan and price menu items — some recorded AI use
- Keep records and accounts — no recorded AI use
- Prepare relishes and hors d'oeuvres — no recorded AI use
- Estimate expected food consumption, requisition or purchase supplies, or procure food from storage — no recorded AI use
- Consult with supervisory staff to plan menus, taking into consideration factors such as costs and special event needs — no recorded AI use
- Butcher and dress animals, fowl, or shellfish, or cut and bone meat before cooking — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Weigh, measure, and mix ingredients according to recipes or personal judgment, using various kitchen utensils and equipment”. Try the prompt for: “Bake, roast, broil, and steam meats, fish, vegetables, and other foods”.
- Weeks 3–4: Make it a habit. Use AI 3 times a week for 15 minutes. Always check facts, numbers and names yourself.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and cooks, restaurant
Will AI replace cooks, restaurant?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 3 of the 14 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Green rating (little AI use so far). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 16 of the 20 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which cook tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: weigh, measure, and mix ingredients according to recipes or personal judgment, using various kitchen utensils and equipment; plan and price menu items; bake, roast, broil, and steam meats, fish, vegetables, and other foods.
Which cook tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: make sure food is stored and cooked at correct temperature by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and roasters; inspect and clean food preparation areas; portion, arrange, and garnish food, and serve food to waiters or patrons. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 61% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a cook start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.