Dozens of jobs are on the chopping block due to AI but many others will be spared because they are typically physically demanding. (Source: Getty)
A new study has revealed the roles most at risk and most protected from the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). While these tools have helped many workers across the country, they’re causing others to lose their jobs.
A poll of more than 1,200 Yahoo Finance readers found 20 per cent fear their job is on the line in the coming years thanks to the technology, while a further 43 per cent hate dealing with AI. Commonwealth Bank (CBA) and Atlassian have made headlines this week for announcing job cuts directly related to prioritising the futuristic new tech.
Microsoft has now analysed hundreds of jobs to see which could be affected by AI in the future.
“Our study explores which job categories can productively use AI chatbots,” Microsoft senior researcher Dr Kiran Tomlinson said.
“Our research shows that AI supports many tasks… but does not indicate it can fully perform any single occupation.”
Microsoft, which has its own AI model called Copilot, said writing and gathering research were the two areas that artificial intelligence-based large language models (LLMs) are currently well-trained for.
The study developed an AI applicability score for each job, and those with the highest results involved those two skills.
Tomlinson stressed this technology is predicted to “change how work is done, not take away or replace jobs”.
“We find the highest AI applicability scores for knowledge work occupation groups such as computer and mathematical, and office and administrative support, as well as occupations such as sales whose work activities involve providing and communicating information,” the study said.
Has your job been wiped out by AI and want to tell your story? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com
“Additionally, we characterise the types of work activities performed most successfully, how wage and education correlate with AI applicability, and how real-world usage compares to predictions of occupational AI impact.”
Here are the 40 jobs that could soon be affected thanks to AI:
Interpreters and Translators
Historians
Passenger Attendants
Sales Representatives of Services
Writers and Authors
Customer Service Representatives
CNC Tool Programmers
Telephone Operators
Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
Broadcast Announcers and Radio DJs
Brokerage Clerks
Farm and Home Management Educators
Telemarketers
Concierges
Political Scientists
News Analysts, Reporters, Journalists
Mathematicians
Technical Writers
Story Continues
Telephone operators and customer service operators are some of the roles that could be massively affected by AI in the future. (Source: Getty) · svetikd via Getty Images
Proofreaders and Copy Markers
Hosts and Hostesses
Editors
Business Teachers, Postsecondary
Public Relations Specialists
Demonstrators and Product Promoters
Advertising Sales Agents
New Accounts Clerks
Statistical Assistants
Counter and Rental Clerks
Data Scientists
Personal Financial Advisors
Archivists
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
Web Developers
Management Analysts
Geographers
Models
Market Research Analysts
Public Safety Tele-communicators
Switchboard Operators
Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Sydney radio station CADA gained a lot of attention earlier this year when it was discovered one of its presenters was an AI-generated person, which went unnoticed for months.
Workdays with Thy was a four-hour show that had a mix of music genres, and the host’s voice and likeness was taken from an employee in the company’s finance team.
It should come as no surprise that many of these roles are physically demanding or at least require some element of physical interaction.
Here are the jobs least likely to be taken over by AI:
Phlebotomists (medical professional who withdraws blood)
Nursing Assistants
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Helpers-Painters, Plasterers,
Embalmers
Plant and System Operators, All Other
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers
Ship Engineers
Tire Repairers and Changers
Prosthodontists (dentist who treats complex dental and facial matters)
Helpers-Production Workers
Highway Maintenance Workers
Medical Equipment Preparers
Packaging and Filling Machine Op.
Machine Feeders and Offbearers
Dishwashers
Certain medical roles have been found to have a very low likelihood of being taken over by large language models. (Source: Getty) · Maskot via Getty Images
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
Supervisors of Firefighters
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
Massage Therapists
Surgical Assistants
Tire Builders
Helpers-Roofers
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Op.
Roofers
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Op.
Logging Equipment Operators
Motorboat Operators
Orderlies
Floor Sanders and Finishers
Pile Driver Operators
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equip. Op.
Foundry Mold and Coremakers
Water Treatment Plant and System Op.
Bridge and Lock Tenders
Dredge Operators
Microsoft said while these jobs might not be affected by LLMs like Copilot or ChatGPT, that isn’t to say they might not be impacted by other types of AI in the future.
The study called out operating machinery, like truck driving, as one example of how that could change down the line.
Morris Misel is a global business futurist who predicts how current trends will evolve in the coming years.
He told Yahoo Finance that while the rise of AI might be terrifying to some people, he didn’t think there will be large swaths of workers suddenly without a job.
“AI will create far more jobs that it decimates,” he said.
“There are so many things that humans can do that technology and artificial intelligence won’t do for a long time.”
But he said you need to be adaptable and willing to learn new skills if you want to survive.
Australia’s biggest bank was slammed for revealing it would be shelving dozens of jobs.
While this has happened multiple times recently at CBA, this was the first where AI was the main reason behind it.
Ninety jobs are due to be cut by the bank, according to the Finance Sector Union (FSU).
Half of those are roles in direct banking that are being impacted by a new voice bot system and local customer messaging specialist roles who interact with customers through the bank’s online chat.
“To meet the changing needs of our customers, like many organisations, we review the skills we need and how we’re organised to deliver the best customer experiences and outcomes. That means some roles and work can change,” a spokesperson told Yahoo Finance.
Commonwealth Bank was slammed this week for cutting dozens of jobs for AI. (Source: Getty) · WILLIAM WEST via Getty Images
The FSU is concerned what this wave of new AI technology will mean for Aussie workers in the future.
“There is a human cost to this. You can’t just replace frontline jobs with a voice bot and expect the same service for customers,” national secretary Julia Angrisano said.
“Customers shouldn’t expect to speak to someone in Australia anymore, or even someone with a voice box.
Atlassian, an Australian-American software company, also revealed this week that 150 staff are getting the flick.
The news was delivered to employees in a pre-recorded video message by co-founder and CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes.
Customer service and support roles are being impacted in the cuts, with some of their tasks now set to be done by artificial intelligence (AI).
The company said jobs weren’t being directly replaced with AI, but the technology had helped usher in improvements in customer experience, and, as a result, some roles wouldn’t be needed.
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