What jobs could AI replace?

The widespread adoption of artificial intelligence has promised to create new jobs and increase worker productivity, but these changes come at a cost. Since 2000, automation systems have gradually displaced many industrial jobs, and now office jobs are also at risk of being automated.

The Reality of Job Replacement

It is undeniable that AI is and will continue to replace specific jobs. From healthcare to agriculture, many sectors will experience disruptions in hiring due to AI. However, demand for workers in other sectors is also expected to increase due to AI.

Some experts, such as Meta’s Nick Clegg and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, are less concerned about AI advancement. Although the machines are advancing, they are doing so much more slowly than the media coverage suggests.

In its study “Economic Potential of Generative AI: The next productivity Frontier” MacKinsey presents an interesting graph on this topic.

Jobs that AI could replace

Some of these jobs are expected to be fully automated in the next five to ten years. In the previous video of TheAIGrid, you will see demonstrations of some of these examples that I will list below:

Customer service: Advanced chatbots, are replacing customer service teams, providing fast and accurate responses.
Telemarketing: AI systems make massive sales calls without errors, following perfect scripts and working relentlessly.
Translators: Automated translation tools are replacing human translators, as seen in the recent downsizing at Duolingo.
Junior programmers: Code generation tools are affecting junior programmers, automating basic coding tasks.
Accountants and accounting assistants: AI systems such as GPT-4 can help with accounting tasks, reducing the need for human accountants.
Data entry: Data entry tasks are being automated by AI systems, eliminating the need for human employees.
Travel agents: AI and automated travel assistants are planning complete itineraries, reducing demand for travel agents.
Call center operators: AI systems can make and handle customer service calls more efficiently than humans.
Warehouse personnel: Robots in warehouses, such as those used by Amazon, are replacing human workers in warehousing and logistics tasks.
Administrative jobs: Administrative tasks such as data management and document organization are being automated by AI systems.
Data researchers: Automation of research and data analysis using AI is reducing the need for human researchers.
Data analytics staff: AI systems are performing complex data analysis, decreasing the demand for human data analysts.
Toll collectors: Automated toll systems are eliminating the need for human toll collectors on highways.
Bank employees: Automation in the banking sector, such as ATMs and online banking, is reducing the need for bank employees.
Postal clerks: Automation in mail and package handling is decreasing the demand for postal clerks.
Human resources assistants: AI systems are handling human resources tasks such as reviewing resumes and scheduling interviews.
Booksellers: Digitization and automated management systems are reducing the need for booksellers in libraries.
Market research interviewers: AI systems can conduct surveys and market analysis, replacing human interviewers.
Technical writers: Automated content generation tools are replacing technical writers in the creation of manuals and documentation.
Dock loaders and stevedores: Robots and automated loading systems are replacing human workers on docks and in warehouses.

Jobs that a priori AI might not replace

In this interesting CBS video, Martin Ford, author and futurist, explains the job fields that could be most affected by the onset of AI, as well as those that are most likely to remain intact in the near future, more related to the rsophisticated human interactions and specialized trades that demand mobility and dexterity such as those related to:

Creative jobs: Professions that require thinking outside the box and generating new ideas are less likely to be replaced by AI.
Human relationships: Professions that involve building complex relationships and showing empathy, such as nursing and mental health, are more secure.
Skilled trades: Jobs that require manual skills and problem-solving in unpredictable environments, such as electricians and plumbers, are difficult to automate.

How to prepare for the Impact of AI in the Workplace?

To prepare for the impact of AI on their jobs, workers should focus on developing skills complementary to AI, such as critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. AI is automating routine and repetitive tasks, allowing humans to focus on more complex and creative work.

Develop AI Skills: Workers must equip themselves with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven era by understanding how this technology affects their industry.
Adapt to New Roles: As AI transforms the workforce, new roles emerge that require a combination of technical skills and a deep understanding of business processes.
Focus on Human Skills: The future workforce will focus on roles that emphasize collaboration between humans and AI, with a focus on creativity, strategic thinking, and emotional intelligence.
Invest in Continuous Learning: Workers should invest in continuous learning and skills development in areas that AI is unlikely to automate, such as strategic decision-making and interpersonal communication.
Adopt AI as a Tool: Workers should view AI as a tool to augment their capabilities, rather than a replacement, integrating AI into their workflows to improve their efficiency.
Prepare for an Expanded Labor Market: AI will enable the elevation of occupations, allowing people to be more efficient and impactful in less time. Workers must be prepared to take advantage of new opportunities and jobs that have not yet been created.

Benefits of AI in the Workplace

Despite fears of job losses, AI offers significant advantages:

More focused and engaging tasks: AI frees humans from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on more complex and rewarding projects.
More efficient workdays: Increased productivity could shorten the workweek, although this raises questions about pay and benefits.
More informed decision-making: AI enables workers to quickly access data and understand trends, eliminating guesswork.
Increased innovation and problem-solving: With AI taking over mundane tasks, humans can tackle more complex business challenges.
Personalized customer interactions: AI helps tailor products and services to customers’ needs, improving customer experience and profitability.

AI is transforming the employment landscape, replacing some jobs and creating new ones. The key is to adapt and acquire skills that complement these emerging technologies. The future of work will depend not only on technology but on how we prepare ourselves to integrate it into our professional lives.

I would like to end with a reflection from the course I am currently taking at MIT on the implications of AI in business strategy. In this course, Professor Daniela Rus, Director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT, discusses an example of how AI, in conjunction with human support, is particularly efficient.

The example is related to the review of radiological images in the search for tumors. In this scenario, AI has an error rate of 7.5% in its diagnoses, while a human has an error rate of 3.5%. If the human works together with the AI, this error rate in diagnoses is reduced to 0.5%!

Interesting, right? And you, what do you think about all this? Are you one of those who think that AI will eliminate a large number of jobs, or on the contrary, will it create new occupations around technology and its use, as has happened in previous technological revolutions?

For more articles on how AI is shaping our world, keep exploring my blog.

Have a good week!

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