Food ServiceO*NET: 35-3031.00
Will AI Replace Waiters and Waitresses?
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
75out of 100
High Risk
AI Risk Score
75/100
Risk Level
High
Job Zone
2/5
Entry
Total Tasks Analyzed
22
🤖 What AI Can Do
- ▸Check patrons' identification to ensure 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.
- ▸Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems.
- ▸Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
- ▸Provide guests with information about local areas, including directions.
👤 What Requires Humans
- ▸Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
- ▸Perform food preparation duties, such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (5)
- Check patrons' identification to ensure 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.
- Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems.
- Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
- Provide guests with information about local areas, including directions.
👤Requires Humans (2)
- Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
- Perform food preparation duties, such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee.
⚡AI-Assisted (15)
- Collect payments from customers.
- Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
- Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning.
- Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining.
- Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required.
- Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming carpet, tidying up server station, taking out trash, or checking and cleaning bathroom.
- Prepare tables for meals, including setting up items such as linens, silverware, and glassware.
- Stock service areas with supplies such as coffee, food, tableware, and linens.
Key Skills Analysis
Service OrientationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.88/5.00
Active Listening
Importance: 3.50/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 3.50/5.00
Social PerceptivenessAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.38/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 2.75/5.00
PersuasionAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.75/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.75/5.00
Time ManagementAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.75/5.00
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.62/5.00
Active LearningAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.50/5.00
Quality Control AnalysisAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 2.25/5.00
WritingAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 2.12/5.00
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Waiters and Waitresses have a high risk of AI replacement with a score of 75/100. Many routine tasks in this role can be automated, but human oversight remains important.
Last updated: 2026-03-28· Data from O*NET 30.2 & Frey/Osborne automation research