Waiters and Waitresses
Official O*NET title: Waiters and Waitresses (35-3031.00)
Also called: banquet server, busser, cocktail server, food runner, food server
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing waiters and waitresses work
2 of 19 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Green (little AI use yet) — 11%. 3 newer tasks are not in the data yet and left out.
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
- Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Provide guests with information about local areas (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Collect payments from customers (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Check patrons' identification to make sure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Check with customers to make sure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Take orders from patrons for food or beverages (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Perform cleaning duties (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Prepare tables for meals (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Stock service areas with supplies such as coffee, food, tableware, and linens (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Roll silverware, set up food stations, or set up dining areas to prepare for the next shift or for large parties (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Inform customers of daily specials (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Assist host or hostess by answering phones to take reservations or to-go orders, and by greeting, seating, and thanking guests (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Perform food preparation duties (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Prepare hot, cold, and mixed drinks for patrons, and chill bottles of wine (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Escort customers to their tables (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Describe and recommend wines to customers — some recorded AI use
- Garnish and decorate dishes in preparation for serving — no recorded AI use
- Bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses, and pour the wines for customers — 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: “Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods”. Try the prompt for: “Provide guests with information about local areas”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and waiters and waitresses
Will AI replace waiters and waitresses?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 2 of the 22 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Green rating (little AI use yet). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 19 of the 25 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which waiter tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: describe and recommend wines to customers; explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods; provide guests with information about local areas.
Which waiter tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: collect payments from customers; check patrons' identification to make sure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages; write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff. 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 83% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a waiter 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.
See how this job ranks
Waiters and Waitresses ranks #434 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #9 of 14 in Food.
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