What jobs are safe from AI taking over

 

As the world becomes more technologically advanced, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly present in our daily lives. However, not all professions will be impacted in the near term, according to a recent report. While AI technologies have the potential to revolutionize workflows and automate aspects of many jobs, jobs involving manual or outdoor labor or specialized knowledge are less likely to be replaced by AI-informed automation. These jobs are safe from the AI revolution for now.

Generative AI and large language models (LLMs) are technologies that have received a lot of attention lately. Both use algorithms to take existing, human-created content, like text, images, audio, and video, to create new content and analyze vast quantities of data. In most professions, AI will serve as a complementary tool for human workers that helps them become more productive by automating some tasks rather than putting those people out of work.

A report by Goldman Sachs found that, while about two-thirds of U.S. jobs are exposed to some degree of AI-informed automation, the average number of tasks in the daily workload for a given job ranged between a quarter to one-half, leaving a significant amount of work for humans. Although the impact of AI on the labor market is likely to be significant, most jobs and industries are only partially exposed to automation and are thus more likely to be complemented rather than substituted by AI.

Fields less exposed to AI-driven automation tend to involve manual and outdoor work or specialized knowledge. The Goldman Sachs report found that health care practitioners and support staff; fishing, farming, and forestry; personal care; and protective services had less than one-quarter of their tasks that weren’t exposed to AI-driven automation. Although each had at least a portion of their tasks that could be complemented by AI.

The report also found that several industries had relatively little exposure to automation by AI technologies, including cleaning; installation, maintenance and repair; construction and extraction; production; and transportation moving. Each had over half of their tasks viewed as not being automatable, with AI largely serving as a complementary tool for the remainder of those tasks.

However, some professions are more exposed to automation by AI technologies than others. The legal field, along with office and administrative support, each had about one-third of their tasks assessed as being replaceable by AI. The types of tasks in these professions that are automatable tend to be those that can be performed by chatbots or transcription tools. But more than half of those professions' tasks were viewed as likely to be complemented by AI.

Industries with a higher proportion of tasks that are exposed to automation and replacement by AI also include manufacturing and customer service. These industries are where many of the fears of job loss due to automation are focused. However, the authors of the Goldman Sachs study noted that while broader adoption of AI tools could replace some jobs, the increased productivity and economic output could lead to the creation of new types of jobs spawned by the wave of innovation, like how the rise of information technology created several new professions like internet marketers and web designers.

In addition, AI-informed chatbots like ChatGPT are tools that can complement tasks in a number of professions. Jeetu Patel, EVP and GM for security and collaboration at Cisco, says that "every job function is starting to see the potential of AI tools. What’s interesting is, historically, technology and automation have first impacted areas like process work rather than knowledge work. But the way AI is starting to take effect, the creative professionals are seeing a fair amount of use of AI. Today, everyday operations around writing, summarization, research, education and learning and more are becoming very logical areas to add a ton of value with the use of AI."

Another field that's safe from AI-driven automation is healthcare. The Goldman Sachs report found that healthcare practitioners and support staff had less than one-quarter of their tasks that weren't exposed to AI-driven automation. However, there are still aspects of the job that could be complemented by AI. For example, AI-powered systems can help doctors diagnose medical conditions more accurately by analyzing large amounts of data.

Fishing, farming, forestry, and personal care also had less than one-quarter of their tasks that weren't exposed to AI-driven automation, which indicates that these jobs are still largely dependent on human labor.

Jobs that require manual labor, specialized knowledge, or work outdoors are also less likely to be replaced by AI-driven automation. For instance, industries like cleaning, installation, maintenance and repair, construction and extraction, production, and transportation moving had over half of their tasks viewed as not being automatable with AI. In these industries, AI technologies can complement the work done by humans and increase productivity, rather than replacing human workers altogether.

The legal field and office and administrative support are examples of industries that have a higher proportion of tasks that can be replaced by AI. Approximately one-third of the tasks in these professions were assessed as being replaceable by AI, mainly those that can be performed by chatbots or transcription tools. However, more than half of those professions' tasks were viewed as likely to be complemented by AI. In the legal field, for instance, AI can be used to research case law and automate legal document review, but human lawyers are still needed to provide legal advice and represent clients in court.

It's worth noting that the broader adoption of AI tools could replace some jobs, but the increased productivity and economic output could lead to the creation of new types of jobs. The rise of information technology, for example, created several new professions like internet marketers and web designers. The authors of the Goldman Sachs study noted that the impact of AI on the labor market is likely to be significant, but most jobs and industries are only partially exposed to automation and are thus more likely to be complemented rather than substituted by AI.

While AI-driven automation has the potential to revolutionize workflows and automate aspects of many jobs, not all professions will be impacted in the near term. Jobs that require manual labor, specialized knowledge, or work outdoors are less likely to be replaced by AI. Additionally, AI technologies can serve as a complementary tool for human workers, increasing productivity rather than putting those people out of work. Therefore, it's important for companies and workers to embrace these new technologies and adapt to the changes they bring to the workforce.