What Jobs Will AI Impact The Most?

AI has taken the world by storm and the pace of advancement has been breathtaking to watch in real time. How we work, communicate, and parse information has changed significantly, and this trend is set to continue. This will inevitably lead to concern about jobs that are under threat from AI and how work will evolve in the years to come. So, it should come as no surprise that online searches, such as “Which jobs are vulnerable to AI replacement?” are commonplace. There is fantastic potential in AI to create new opportunities and revolutionize industry, but it’s important to stay ahead of the curve. In this article, we will look at several careers that are likely to be transformed or replaced by AI and how you can navigate these changes.

Data Entry Clerk

AI can remove the requirement for manual data entry because large volumes of data can be analyzed and processed quickly. Automation and machine learning to extract data from a large number of sources will streamline workflow, reduce the potential for human error, and improve data-related efficiency. In one case, a data entry freelancer working from home in India automated his tasks with AI and got his entire workload automated. This worker managed to fly under the radar for a while by inserting a few random mistakes to make the output more human and less obviously algorithm-driven. At this time, the projected growth for data entry is -4% up to 2028. The most obvious transition is to switch to data management or data science analysis to interpret AI generated data sets. Learning to analyze AI driven data is likely to be a valuable skill set in the future. 

Cashier  

A visit to virtually any market or bank will reveal some kind of automated processing system. This has significantly reduced the need for a traditional cashier manning a desk or ringing up groceries. Now, there are companies working on scalable AI driven systems that can work on any size store, from a kiosk right up to an entire retail store. These systems use computers, standard RGB cameras, and AI driven software to track items that customers pick up. The sales analytics and inventory are tracked automatically to ensure that the store is profitable and restocked efficiently. Some human oversight will always be needed, and making a career switch to sales associate, supply chain operations, or customer service roles is highly recommended.

Telemarketer 

Recent news reports have revealed that telemarketers are at the top of occupations that are likely to be completely replaced by AI powered tools. Right now, it’s easy to notice the proliferation of virtual assistants and AI chatbots that can effortlessly handle queries and customer interactions. These systems work on a 24/7 basis, and they can be configured to accommodate any service or industry. The best option for telemarketers right now would be to explore sales strategy development, customer relationship management, and more personalized customer service positions. Some clients will always want an element of human interaction as we move forward, but this is likely to be a niche role.

Travel Agent  

According to Forbes, one of the first industries to adopt AI algorithms for business were the travel platforms. This gave companies the capability to efficiently create more personalized trip booking and planning options for their clients. A booking site, such as Google Flights, even uses predictive AI tools to estimate if the price of a flight is likely to decrease or increase in the near future. This gives the client a chance to get better deals on flight prices based on the AI recommendations. As this technology improves, in depth AI dialogue could be used to find the best up-to-date deals on car rentals, hotels, and other travel experiences. For travel agents who want to stay in the industry, it’s a good idea to make a pivot to other roles, such as tourism consulting, destination marketing or niche travel experience specialization. Some travel agents have successfully made a switch to real estate, and others have pivoted to blogging/travel writing.

Customer Support Representative  

As we’ve seen, the latest AI-powered chats can easily handle routine customer inquiries, with more complex interactions being routed to human customer support representatives. As the technology develops, there will be an inevitable creep into more specialized customer support, which would place customer support representative jobs at risk. For this reason, we recommend a move to roles such as user experience specialists, customer success managers or relationship managers. These more specialized jobs are likely to be safe for the foreseeable future. 

Navigating Artificial Intelligence  

It’s hard to determine the direction and evolution of AI-powered tools, and they seem to surprise experts with alarming regularity. That said, it’s highly likely that any role that requires a certain level of emotional intelligence will be relatively safe in the near future. Engaging in empathy seems to be the main drawback to AI; it cannot make judgments based upon nuance and deeper meanings, and it can’t understand situational context. To put this into context, any job that draws from human attributes will be better performed by a person, for now, at least. However, in that role, professionals may find that AI-powered tools can help them to work more efficiently. The key difference would be that the person would have the expertise, and the AI would be working in a support role. In fact, even in certain roles that are likely to be impacted, including those shown above, there may be reasons why a human with real world expertise and experience would be preferable for clients. If this seems like a realistic option for your career, the best defense against AI replacement would be to stay adaptable and informed. Maintaining a positive attitude to the inevitable changes is extremely important. Some people may view re-skilling as preparation for job losses and this can foster feelings of resentment and negativity. But, most industries expect employees to undertake some type of professional development. Many people will view this adaptation as a routine extension of this type of career development, and that is a healthier approach. Taking some time to re-skill, using AI-powered tools to improve your efficiency and preparing for future opportunities improve your career prospects significantly.