Microsoft reveals 40 jobs about to be destroyed by AI (and those safe from it) — is your career on the list?

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It’s RIP for journalists (🥲), and many other professions, according to Microsoft Research.

A group of data scientists from Microsoft’s research department has recently disclosed in a new paper the types of jobs that are likely to be influenced by AI, considering several variables. This analysis focused on the U.S. job market, but without proper global regulations, it seems these predictions could potentially apply to developed or developing countries worldwide.

Microsoft leads the way in artificial intelligence technology, leveraging its Azure data centers to provide processing power for models such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, and Grok. Their Copilot chatbot is seamlessly integrated into Windows operating systems, while their business-focused solutions within Microsoft 365 are designed to streamline workflows by automating routine tasks.

As AI technology advances, it appears more and more likely that it will not only handle routine tasks efficiently but potentially displace entire professions. On a grand scale, AI could bring about unforeseen impacts on governments and society as a whole. However, this situation may also present hidden opportunities ahead.

As I peruse through this compilation, it appears that Microsoft Research has identified a list of 40 jobs that are potentially susceptible to influence from artificial intelligence, as well as another group of 40 jobs that seem less likely to experience such an impact.

Top 40 jobs most at risk from AI (via Microsoft Research)
# Job Title Score Employment
1 Interpreters and Translators 0.49 51,560
2 Historians 0.48 3,040
3 Passenger Attendants 0.47 20,190
4 Sales Representatives of Services 0.46 1,142,020
5 Writers and Authors 0.45 49,450
6 Customer Service Representatives 0.44 2,858,710
7 CNC Tool Programmers 0.44 28,030
8 Telephone Operators 0.42 4,600
9 Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks 0.41 119,270
10 Broadcast Announcers and Radio DJs 0.41 25,070
11 Brokerage Clerks 0.41 48,060
12 Farm and Home Management Educators 0.41 8,110
13 Telemarketers 0.40 81,580
14 Concierges 0.40 41,020
15 Political Scientists 0.39 5,580
16 News Analysts, Reporters, Journalists 0.39 45,020
17 Mathematicians 0.39 2,220
18 Technical Writers 0.38 47,970
19 Proofreaders and Copy Markers 0.38 5,490
20 Hosts and Hostesses 0.37 425,020
21 Editors 0.37 95,700
22 Business Teachers, Postsecondary 0.37 82,980
23 Public Relations Specialists 0.36 275,550
24 Demonstrators and Product Promoters 0.36 50,790
25 Advertising Sales Agents 0.36 108,100
26 New Accounts Clerks 0.36 41,180
27 Statistical Assistants 0.36 7,200
28 Counter and Rental Clerks 0.36 390,300
29 Data Scientists 0.36 192,710
30 Personal Financial Advisors 0.35 272,190
31 Archivists 0.35 7,150
32 Economics Teachers, Postsecondary 0.35 12,210
33 Web Developers 0.35 85,350
34 Management Analysts 0.35 838,140
35 Geographers 0.35 1,460
36 Models 0.35 3,090
37 Market Research Analysts 0.35 846,370
38 Public Safety Telecommunicators 0.35 97,820
39 Switchboard Operators 0.35 43,830
40 Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary 0.34 4,220

Many jobs in the top 40 “most vulnerable” categories predominantly involve tasks that AI systems like ChatGPT excel at. These roles are primarily focused on work that is largely impersonal and can be easily digitized or automated, making them susceptible to being performed by artificial intelligence. The table was organized based on the risk level, from highest to lowest, according to the findings in the research paper.

It struck me as unusual to find models on that list, but it became clear when I realized I could simply ask AI like ChatGPT or Copilot to create an image of a model performing any action with a simple command. It’s intriguing to think that Microsoft Research believes AI might one day replicate my favorite Xbox exclusives… quite remarkable!

Perhaps I should consider a career in phlebotomy, or become a masseuse?

Top 40 jobs least at risk from AI (via Microsoft Research)
# Job Title Score Employment
1 Dredge Operators 0.00 340
2 Bridge and Lock Tenders 0.00 3,460
3 Water Treatment Plant and System Op. 0.00 120,710
4 Foundry Mold and Coremakers 0.00 2,700
5 Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equip. Op. 0.00 4,010
6 Pile Driver Operators 0.00 3,010
7 Floor Sanders and Finishers 0.00 4,510
8 Orderlies 0.01 48,710
9 Motorboat Operators 0.01 2,710
10 Logging Equipment Operators 0.01 23,720
11 Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Op. 0.01 43,080
12 Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 0.01 836,230
13 Roustabouts, Oil and Gas 0.01 43,880
14 Roofers 0.01 135,140
15 Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Op. 0.01 4,400
16 Helpers–Roofers 0.01 4,540
17 Tire Builders 0.01 20,660
18 Surgical Assistants 0.01 18,780
19 Massage Therapists 0.01 92,650
20 Ophthalmic Medical Technicians 0.01 73,390
21 Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators 0.01 778,920
22 Supervisors of Firefighters 0.01 81,120
23 Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers 0.01 203,560
24 Dishwashers 0.02 463,940
25 Machine Feeders and Offbearers 0.02 44,500
26 Packaging and Filling Machine Op. 0.02 371,600
27 Medical Equipment Preparers 0.02 66,790
28 Highway Maintenance Workers 0.02 150,860
29 Helpers–Production Workers 0.02 181,810
30 Prosthodontists 0.02 570
31 Tire Repairers and Changers 0.02 101,520
32 Ship Engineers 0.03 8,860
33 Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers 0.33 16,890
34 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 0.33 4,160
35 Plant and System Operators, All Other 0.33 15,370
36 Embalmers 0.33 3,380
37 Helpers–Painters, Plasterers, … 0.33 7,700
38 Hazardous Materials Removal Workers 0.33 49,960
39 Nursing Assistants 0.33 1,351,760
40 Phlebotomists 0.29 137,080

I arranged these jobs based on a scoring system from Microsoft Research, where a lower score suggests they are less likely to be automated.

Jobs considered less susceptible to automation are those that necessitate a personal, physical interaction, such as massage therapists, construction workers, roofers, engineers, and surgeons. However, it’s important to note that technology is rapidly advancing, and robots are growing more tactile and sophisticated every day. It seems inevitable that AI-designed humanoid robots will eventually take over many of these roles in the future.

It’s all getting a bit Matrix-y, isn’t it?

The AI upheaval will have massive consequences, for better or worse

Just as the Industrial Revolution significantly transformed the world in the 1800s, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to bring about profound changes. While some compare AI’s impact to the way cars displaced the horse-drawn carriage industry, it’s becoming clear that governments are starting to recognize the potential devastation this technology might cause.

As more and more jobs transition to white-collar work, our current economic structure heavily relies on employment. If widespread unemployment, a phenomenon we’ve never experienced before, were to occur due to various factors, it could lead to significant social upheaval. Governments appear to be underprepared for potential AI catastrophes, and this is before we even consider the advancements in artificial general intelligence and self-improving models that are approaching on the horizon.

Artificial Intelligence might exacerbate social inequalities and wealth gaps, leading societies to elect populist leaders who pledge radical transformation but often deliver the status quo instead. Society may reach its tolerance limit for such deception, and AI could serve as the catalyst pushing it towards a tipping point.

Instead, consider these advantages: Artificial Intelligence (AI) might expedite discoveries in diseases and cancer, as it can process data, understand complex concepts, and run experiments at a pace that far surpasses human teams. Furthermore, AI could potentially devise economic strategies to address the impending unemployment issue, such as a distributed universal basic income system. This concept is suggested to liberate humanity from the burdens of traditional work, in theory.

I usually lean towards a more skeptical outlook when considering the future, but much like the Industrial Revolution, it brought about significant upheaval. However, it’s clear that it propelled society forward as a whole. It gave birth to entirely new industries and opportunities, and it significantly increased global life expectancies, largely due to advancements in agriculture, medicine, and other areas.

It’s possible that AI will generate new job opportunities equal to those it replaces. Yet, there remains uncertainty about whether it might entirely replace human labor. Could our future involve harnessing limitless energy for space exploration? Or is it more likely we’ll find ourselves in a reality like The Matrix or Terminator, controlled by advanced machines?

I guess we won’t have to wait too long to find out. What do you think?

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2025-07-29 14:13