AI is changing the way people work faster than ever before. Find out which 40+ jobs are most at risk, read about the stages of AI development, and find out what skills you need to do well in the new economy.

The New Industrial Revolution Is Here: An Introduction

People used to talk about AI in terms of science fiction, but now it's a real problem that needs to be solved. What used to be a faraway worry about robots taking over manual labor has turned into a disruption of white-collar, creative, and knowledge-based professions today. 

The main question is no more whether AI will disrupt the workforce, but how quickly and deeply it will do so. Tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney can write, analyze, and create art that is as good as or better than what humans can do. This isn't something that will happen in the future; it's happening now. 

The change is already happening, from Hollywood authors going on strike over AI's role in making content to companies like IBM and Dropbox publicly switching to investing in AI. 0 This essay will help you understand how big this change is, what jobs are most likely to be automated, and the best ways to make sure your profession is safe in the future.

Learning About the Three Stages of AI

To comprehend the possible effects, it's important to know how AI is developing. Experts usually divide this into three steps:

1. ANI (Artificial Narrow Intelligence): This is the kind of AI we've had for a long time. It is very good at one thing. Some examples are Siri, facial recognition software, recommendation systems, and spam filters. We are definitely in the ANI age, but we are quickly going past it. 60
2. AGI, or Artificial General Intelligence, is the next big thing we are getting closer to. AGI stands for "artificial general intelligence." It is a type of machine that can understand, learn, and use knowledge across a wide range of tasks at a level that is equal to that of a person. It may be an expert in every field with a PhD who can answer complicated questions in a matter of milliseconds. Current large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4 are early, incomplete looks at AGI. Estimates say that we are quickly getting closer to complete AGI in the next few years. 62
3. ASI (Artificial Superintelligence): This is the last stage that some people find scary. ASI would be a mind that is much smarter than the best human brains in almost every area, such as scientific innovation, general knowledge, and social abilities. People are worried that if AGI is reached, it could improve itself over and over again until it reaches ASI levels at an incomprehensible speed. This is called the "singularity."

Our march toward the early phases of AGI is causing problems in the job market right now. 63

The Size of the Problem: By the Numbers

The data shows that things are about to alter a lot:

• AI might change at least 10% of the responsibilities of 80% of the U.S. workforce. 0
• The World Economic Forum says that AI automation will replace 25% of all occupations in the next five years. This change might cost 85 million jobs around the world. 1
• Surprisingly, high-paying, white-collar industries are some of the most at risk. This includes jobs in law, finance, and software engineering. 3
• Women and people with only a high school certificate are more likely to lose their employment to automation. 10

40+ Jobs That AI Could Take Over

The following jobs are very likely to be automated because of what AI can do now and in the near future. For clarity, this list is organized into groups:

Roles in Administration and Data Processing

AI can make these monotonous, rule-based operations work better.

1. Clerks who enter data
2. People who keep books
3. People who work in payroll
4. Clerks who work with files
5. Clerks for shipping and receiving
6. Mail Sorters (in the private sector)
7. People who write down what they hear
8. Copy Editors and Proofreaders

Roles in Customer Service and Support

Chatbots and speech agents that use AI are becoming more and more like people.

9. People that call you to sell you things
10. People who work in customer service
11. Tech Support Specialists (Remote)
12. Bank Tellers
13. Cashiers in Stores
14. People who answer the phone
15. Analysts of Customer Feedback

Roles in Law, Finance, and Analysis

AI is great at breaking down huge volumes of data, finding patterns, and making reports.

16. Assistants to lawyers
17. Assistants in the law
18. People who study money
19. Loan Officers (Junior/Pre-screening)
20. Market Research Analysts
21. People who look at data
22. People who handle billing
23. People who prepare taxes
24. Junior and routine tasks for accountants

Roles in Creative and Content Creation

With just a few simple prompts, generative AI can now make text, pictures, videos, and music.

25. Writers of copy
26. Bloggers and writers of content
27. Graphic designers
28. Managers of social media
29. Coordinators and assistants for marketing
30. Writers of technical documents

Roles in Management and Operations

AI is going from being a tool for workers to being a manager of workers.

31. Middle managers and project managers (AI can make workflows more efficient and keep an eye on progress)
32. HR experts (for screening, onboarding, and everyday questions)
33. Managers of Inventory
34. Coordinators of logistics
35. Inspectors for Quality Control

Other Fields That Are Weak

36. Workers on the assembly line (thanks to modern automation)
37. Workers in warehouses (automated picking and packing)
38. Agents for travel
39. People who plan events
40. Real estate agents (to do basic research and make listings)
41. Teachers and tutors (for preparing for standardized tests and helping with specific subjects)

Why This Time Is Different: Size and Speed

In the past, technology took employment away but also made new ones (for example, the motor industry took the position of buggy builders). The AI revolution is different for two main reasons:

1. Scale: AI isn't just changing one industry at a time. It is affecting every part of the world economy at the same time, from farming to healthcare to the arts. 3
2. Speed: The rate of adoption is going up very quickly. The cloud makes it possible to roll out a technology that used to take decades to do so all over the world in only a few months. 18

Because of this combination, the economy might not have enough time to spontaneously produce new jobs for all the people who have lost theirs, which could cause big social and economic problems.

The Good News: Jobs That AI Can't Easily Take Over (For Now)

Things aren't all bad. AI has a hard time performing activities that demand very human traits. In the foreseeable future, the safest jobs will need these skills:

• High Agency and Entrepreneurship: the capacity to take charge, gather resources, and finish complicated initiatives. AI can help, but a person needs to be in charge of the vision. 40
• Skilled Trades: Plumbers, electricians, HVAC professionals, and welders work in places that are hard and expensive to automate because they are not organized. 41
• Real Human Connection: Nurses, senior caretakers, therapists, and teachers offer empathy, emotional support, and complex human connection that AI can't really copy. 42
• Complex Problem-Solving and Creativity: People will always be better at coming up with new ideas, making strategic decisions, and expressing themselves artistically in ways that are new and different. 43
• Distribution and Personal Branding: In a world full with AI-generated material, having a real connection with people and a strong personal brand will be very important. People who have an audience ("distribution") will do well. 24

How to Make Sure Your Career Lasts

1. Don't be afraid of AI; embrace it. The worst thing you can do is ignore it. Learn how to use AI tools that are useful in your field, such ChatGPT, Midjourney, and others. Learn how to use AI to get 10 times more done. 43
2. Improve your "human" skills: Work on skills like critical thinking, creativity, empathy, negotiation, and leadership. These are significantly tougher to do by machine. 40
3. Always be learning: The idea of having one job for life is over. Be ready to keep changing and learning new things through online courses, certifications, and hands-on experience. 10
4. Think about a skilled trade: These jobs pay well, are stable, and won't be affected right away by AI automation. 41
5. Build your network and personal brand. AI can't degrade trust and relationships with other people. It will be more crucial than ever to have a strong professional network and a good reputation for being reliable. 24

Conclusion: How to Get Through the Uncertain Future

The rise of AI is a big change, like the introduction of electricity or the internet. It offers both new problems and chances. Millions of jobs will be lost, but new ones that we can't even picture yet will also be made. 17 Being able to adapt is the most important thing you can do to go through this change. 

You can not only survive but also succeed in the new economy if you grasp the terrain, proactively develop the relevant skills, and see AI as a valuable tool instead of a competition. The future is bright for those who are willing to learn, change, and use this powerful new technology.