Will AI replace waiters?
Updated
Waiters score 31 of 100 for AI exposure. 59% of their task time still needs a person. AI can do 5% today and speed up another 36%.
- 5% AI can do it
- 36% AI helps
- 59% Needs a person
Moderate exposure
Lower than 60% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 25 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 1 of them today, speeds up 9 and leaves 15 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes. POS systems already itemize and total checks automatically. | 85% AI can do it |
| Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff. Voice and tablet tools can capture and transmit orders. | 60% AI helps |
| Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request. Assistants can answer menu questions; presenting stays in person. | 55% AI helps |
| Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods. Assistants can summarize recipes and ingredients; allergens need kitchen check. | 55% AI helps |
| Provide guests with information about local areas, including directions. Maps and AI can give directions; delivering info is conversational. | 45% AI helps |
| Take orders from patrons for food or beverages. Ordering apps help, but taking requests is live conversation. | 40% AI helps |
| Assist host or hostess by answering phones to take reservations or to-go orders, and by greeting, seating, and thanking guests. Booking bots can take reservations; greeting and seating stay physical. | 40% AI helps |
| Describe and recommend wines to customers. AI can suggest pairings; live recommendations depend on guest taste. | 40% AI helps |
| Collect payments from customers. Pay at table apps handle card payments; cash still manual. | 35% AI helps |
| Inform customers of daily specials. Specials text can be drafted, but delivering them is verbal. | 35% AI helps |
Show the other 15 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems. Live check-ins need in person judgement and care. | 12% Needs a person |
| Perform food preparation duties, such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee. Hands-on food prep and coffee brewing need physical skill. | 12% Needs a person |
| Prepare hot, cold, and mixed drinks for patrons, and chill bottles of wine. Bartending needs hands-on mixing and pouring skill. | 12% Needs a person |
| Garnish and decorate dishes in preparation for serving. Plating and garnishing need hands-on finishing skills. | 12% Needs a person |
| Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages. Needs physical ID inspection and legal age accountability. | 10% Needs a person |
| Stock service areas with supplies such as coffee, food, tableware, and linens. Restocking is physical, though inventory tracking can be digital. | 10% Needs a person |
| Fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers. Refilling condiment containers is simple physical restocking work. | 6% Needs a person |
| Bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses, and pour the wines for customers. Pouring and presenting wine at tables is physical service. | 6% Needs a person |
| Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning. Clearing dishes is physical work requiring hands and movement. | 5% Needs a person |
| Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required. Carrying and serving food at tables is physical and in person. | 5% Needs a person |
| Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining. Wiping and clearing tables is hands-on physical cleaning. | 4% Needs a person |
| Prepare tables for meals, including setting up items such as linens, silverware, and glassware. Setting tables with linens and silverware is hands-on work. | 4% Needs a person |
| Roll silverware, set up food stations, or set up dining areas to prepare for the next shift or for large parties. Rolling silverware and setting up stations is physical work. | 4% Needs a person |
| Escort customers to their tables. Walking guests to tables is physical and in person. | 4% Needs a person |
| Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming carpet, tidying up server station, taking out trash, or checking and cleaning bathroom. Sweeping, mopping and bathroom cleaning are physical tasks. | 3% Needs a person |
How waiters compare
All occupations (923)
Food preparation and serving (16)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $35,230 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 2.3 million in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +2.0% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Run tableside orders on Aloha Point-of-Sale
- Check allergens with the kitchen before sending tickets
- Recommend wine pairings from the menu at the table
- Set tables with linens, silverware and glassware
- Close and split guest checks on NCR Advanced Checkout Solution
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about waiters and AI
Will waiters be replaced by AI?
Partly. About 2 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly writing orders for the kitchen and preparing itemized checks. Presenting menus, clearing tables and serving guests in person stay with waiters because they need a person in the room.
Which waiter tasks is AI taking over?
Preparing checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes scores 85 on exposure, since POS systems already total checks automatically. Taking and entering orders scores 60, because voice and tablet tools can capture them and send them to the kitchen.
Which waiter tasks stay human?
Clearing dishes, escorting guests and setting tables score 4 or 5 on exposure, because they need hands and movement in the room. Wiping tables and sweeping floors also score 3 or 4, so these physical tasks stay with waiters as AI handles the paperwork.
How can waiters stay valuable?
Learn Aloha Point-of-Sale and NCR tableside ordering so you can fix errors fast during service. Know each dish's ingredients and cooking method, then check allergens with the kitchen before sending tickets. Lead table recommendations and wine pairings, since presenting menus stays in person.
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