Will AI replace Taxi Drivers?
Estimated risk score: 55 out of 100
Moderate replacement risk
Estimate from published task research, not reviewed by a person · how we estimate
Within about 19 points for 4 in 5 of the jobs we checked (36 to 74).
Low confidence: the research disagrees with itself about this job (its tasks look automatable on paper but are rated as not sped up by AI).
For the occupation as a whole, from ratings of its 16 O*NET tasks published in 2023 and calibrated to our hand scores. A specialty inside it can sit higher or lower.
O*NET-SOC 53-3054.00 · Transportation and Material Moving
Tasks rated in 2023 as ones AI could do or speed up
Tasks a GPT-4-class model could do, or do in half the time or less: 8 of its 16 rated tasks; the first 6 are shown. In O*NET’s words.
- Determine fares based on trip distances and times, using taximeters and fee schedules, and announce fares to passengers.
- Report to taxicab services or garages to receive vehicle assignments.
- Turn the taximeter on when passengers enter the cab, and turn it off when they reach the final destination.
- Communicate with dispatchers by radio, telephone, or computer to exchange information and receive requests for passenger service.
- Complete accident reports when necessary.
- Notify dispatchers or company mechanics of vehicle problems.
Tasks rated in 2023 as not sped up by AI
Tasks such a model was rated as not speeding up or taking over: 8 of its 16 rated tasks; the first 6 are shown. In O*NET’s words.
- Drive taxicabs or privately owned vehicles to transport passengers.
- Perform minor vehicle repairs, such as cleaning spark plugs, or take vehicles to mechanics for servicing.
- Perform routine vehicle maintenance, such as regulating tire pressure and adding gasoline, oil, and water.
- Pick up passengers at prearranged locations, at taxi stands, or by cruising streets in high-traffic areas.
- Provide passengers with assistance entering and exiting vehicles, and help them with any luggage.
- Test vehicle equipment, such as lights, brakes, horns, or windshield wipers, to ensure proper operation.
What the job is
Drive a motor vehicle to transport passengers on an unplanned basis and charge a fare, usually based on a meter.
Also called: Cab Driver, Taxi Cab Driver, Hack Driver, Lyft Driver, Pedicab Driver, Taxicab Driver, Rickshaw Driver, Bicycle Taxi Driver.
Closest jobs we score by hand
In the same field (Transportation and Material Moving). Different jobs, each scored by a person.
Source. This site includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. (O*NET, CC BY 4.0.) Task ratings: Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock (2023), “GPTs are GPTs: An Early Look at the Labor Market Impact Potential of Large Language Models”, data used under the MIT licence (licence texts). Our change: we averaged the ratings over this occupation’s tasks and calibrated them to our 0–100 scale. It is not a prediction about any one person and not career advice. Disagree? Write to hello@yourstopwashit.com. How we estimate