In the same way that prior industrial revolutions have disrupted the labor market, it seems increasingly likely that the widespread adoption of AI, combined with other advanced tech, will replace a massive number of workers. This time, however, the disruption is likely to be economy-wide.
These industry roles are ones that AI is the most likely to take over in the coming decades ” or even the next few years.
White-Collar Jobs May Be Most Vulnerable to AI
According to a recent report from Brookings, workers from just about any occupation “class” may be at risk. Some of the most vulnerable to AI disruption, however, will be white-collar knowledge workers ” including scientists, engineers, managers and programmers.
The rise of automated call management systems and schedulers may put workers like telemarketers and secretaries at risk as well. Natural language processing (NLP) algorithms ” AI tech that can understand and process language much like humans can ” may put proofreaders out of work.
Routine administrative work may also be automated with new AI tech. This may result in a lighter workload for business administrative support staff or justify fewer workers in those roles.
Self-Driving Cars May Replace Drivers and Truckers
Service workers, especially those working for gig economy platforms like UberEats or DoorDash, are also at significant risk. Delivery and rideshare drivers are especially vulnerable to AI disruption. Self-driving cars, if safe and economical at scale, could partially or completely replace these workers.
Major rideshare companies are already aware of how self-driving may help them save on labor ” both Uber and Lyft are gambling on autonomous vehicle projects right now.
Truckers face similar risks. While most self-driving car companies have focused on passenger vehicles, a few projects that aim to build self-driving semi-trailers are in the works.
Fortunately for these workers, the current slew of autonomous car projects have all hit significant roadblocks. A number of self-driving car startups have shut down after failing to make significant progress, and even projects backed by big tech companies have struggled to make the tech work.
Industry experts believe that self-driving cars will become the norm eventually. While they may be delayed for the moment, workers are likely to feel the impact of autonomous vehicles within the coming decades.
New Robotics May Cost Manufacturing Jobs
The rise of new and more efficient AI-powered robots may further chip away at existing manufacturing jobs.
For example, the automotive labor market has traditionally been vulnerable to disruption by new tech. Right now, the use of electronics in automaking is expanding rapidly, demanding workers with new skillsets and pushing companies to adopt more advanced manufacturing solutions.
It’s likely that the adoption of new robots will displace workers. According to a recent study from Oxford Economics, each new robot displaces about 1.6 workers. Global adoption of robots is growing at a steady pace, and the rise of smarter robot tech may accelerate this trend.
However, not all ‘bots are designed to replace workers. Many of the new robots being adopted, for example, are collaborative robots, called “cobots.” Examples of these cobots include warehouse cargo ‘bots, steered by intelligent pathfinding algorithms, which primarily assist floor workers in moving goods from storage to shipping. There are also sophisticated miniature robot arms, designed to work alongside workers, rather than replace them.
Adoption of collaborative, AI-powered robot tech may not lead to as much job loss as currently forecast.
How AI Tech May Shake Up the Labor Market Soon
In general, every occupational group is likely to feel the effects of AI adoption. For some workers, this may mean a shift away from tedious or repetitive tasks that AI can automate. For others, it may mean looking for a new job.
At the moment, it seems like AI disruption may be muted by the limits of the tech. Current AI technology seems like it may not support the ambition of AI developers. In manufacturing, dreams of the lights-out factory ” a factory run entirely by robots ” have been replaced by warehouses in which robots assist workers rather than replace them.
Self-driving cars continue to struggle, too. Where AI has been most successful ” in predictive analytics, image recognition and data analysis ” are areas where businesses primarily use the tech to support, not replace, skilled workers.
Still, there’s no telling how AI tech will develop in the coming decades. A breakthrough in robotics tech, AI automation or self-driving cars could quickly change the situation.
