Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop score 23 out of 100, which is moderate exposure to AI. That ranks #615 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 22 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 1 on its own and 9 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 2 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

23/ 100

Moderate

Rank: #615of 923 jobs
US workers: 432,690BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $31,200a year
In real AI use: 2 of 22tasks, April–May 2026

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 1 (5%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 9 (41%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 12 (55%)

Answer telephone calls and respond to inquiries or transfer calls.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
Assign patrons to tables suitable for their needs and according to rotation so that servers receive an appropriate number of seatings.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Receive and record patrons' dining reservations.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Inform patrons of establishment specialties and features.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Hire, train, and supervise food and beverage service staff.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Prepare cash receipts after establishments close, and make bank deposits.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Plan parties or other special events and services.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Prepare staff work schedules.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Perform marketing and advertising services.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Confer with other staff to help plan establishments' menus.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Provide guests with menus.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Operate cash registers to accept payments for food and beverages.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Speak with patrons to ensure satisfaction with food and service, to respond to complaints, or to make conversation.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Take and prepare to-go orders.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Maintain contact with kitchen staff, management, serving staff, and customers to ensure that dining details are handled properly and customers' concerns are addressed.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Inspect dining and serving areas to ensure cleanliness and proper setup.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Inspect restrooms for cleanliness and availability of supplies, and clean restrooms when necessary.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Assist other restaurant workers by serving food and beverages, or by bussing tables.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Supervise and coordinate activities of dining room staff to ensure that patrons receive prompt and courteous service.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Direct patrons to coatrooms and waiting areas, such as lounges.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Order or requisition supplies and equipment for tables and serving stations.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop and AI

Will AI replace hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop score 23 out of 100 (moderate exposure), #615 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 10 of the job's 22 tasks, 1 of them on its own, while 12 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Answer telephone calls and respond to inquiries or transfer calls".

Which hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Provide guests with menus"; "Greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas"; "Operate cash registers to accept payments for food and beverages".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 2 of the 22 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop, and what do they earn?

About 432,690 people in the US, with median pay of $31,200 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop

Task by task

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Questions about hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop and AI

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