Whether you’re a techno-optimist, realist, or pessimist, you can’t deny that the rise ofartificial intelligenceis shaking things up. Thejob industryis going through some major shifts. And, likely, this will only accelerate in the future. The International Monetary Fundwarns thatAI is going to affect nearly 40% of all jobs worldwide.Naturally, some folks are slightly worried about the future of their careers. Meanwhile, others are barely breaking a sweat. The r/AskReddit communityrecently chattedabout the jobs that they think are nearly entirely safe from AI making them obsolete. Scroll down to hear their thoughts. (You might also want to keep this in mind for a plan B if your white-collar or creative job goes sideways.)Bored Pandawanted to learn more about which professions are safer and more vulnerable, as well as how employees can adapt to the spread of AI. So, we reached out tomarketing psychology speaker Matt Johnson, Ph.D., andpersonal finance expert Sam Dogen from ‘Financial Samurai’for comment.This post may includeaffiliate links.
Whether you’re a techno-optimist, realist, or pessimist, you can’t deny that the rise ofartificial intelligenceis shaking things up. Thejob industryis going through some major shifts. And, likely, this will only accelerate in the future. The International Monetary Fundwarns thatAI is going to affect nearly 40% of all jobs worldwide.
Naturally, some folks are slightly worried about the future of their careers. Meanwhile, others are barely breaking a sweat. The r/AskReddit communityrecently chattedabout the jobs that they think are nearly entirely safe from AI making them obsolete. Scroll down to hear their thoughts. (You might also want to keep this in mind for a plan B if your white-collar or creative job goes sideways.)
Bored Pandawanted to learn more about which professions are safer and more vulnerable, as well as how employees can adapt to the spread of AI. So, we reached out tomarketing psychology speaker Matt Johnson, Ph.D., andpersonal finance expert Sam Dogen from ‘Financial Samurai’for comment.
This post may includeaffiliate links.
Nursing.SpaceMurse:I would do ungodly, unforgivable things for an AI rig that will do my patients’ bowel programs.
According tomarketing psychology speaker Johnson, who is the host of thebrandingandhuman natureblogs, even though AI is “poised to transform a significant portion of the workforce, not everyone needs to panic.”“It’s clear that certain jobs are less susceptible to immediate disruption. Roles requiring high levels of creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, such as artists, therapists, and strategic decision-makers, are less likely to be automated. Jobs that involve complex problem-solving in unpredictable environments, like scientists or emergency responders, also remain relatively safe,” he explained to Bored Panda via email.Johnson noted that other positions that are less likely to be automated include nurses, social workers, and educators, who require a high degree of human interaction and empathy in their day-to-day jobs.Meanwhile, skilled tradespeople and technicians, whose roles demand high levels of manual dexterity and adaptability, are also safer from becoming obsolete. “While AI will undoubtedly impact the job market, these roles are expected to remain in demand due to their uniquely human qualities and the complexity of the tasks involved,” Johnson said.
According tomarketing psychology speaker Johnson, who is the host of thebrandingandhuman natureblogs, even though AI is “poised to transform a significant portion of the workforce, not everyone needs to panic.”
“It’s clear that certain jobs are less susceptible to immediate disruption. Roles requiring high levels of creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, such as artists, therapists, and strategic decision-makers, are less likely to be automated. Jobs that involve complex problem-solving in unpredictable environments, like scientists or emergency responders, also remain relatively safe,” he explained to Bored Panda via email.
Johnson noted that other positions that are less likely to be automated include nurses, social workers, and educators, who require a high degree of human interaction and empathy in their day-to-day jobs.
Meanwhile, skilled tradespeople and technicians, whose roles demand high levels of manual dexterity and adaptability, are also safer from becoming obsolete. “While AI will undoubtedly impact the job market, these roles are expected to remain in demand due to their uniquely human qualities and the complexity of the tasks involved,” Johnson said.
Trade jobs (plumbing, electricians, painters, etc).dogdashdash:Ye. I’m a plumber in Ontario. At this point I can literally quit my job right now via text and have a new one lined up for Monday. No AI or modular homes are taking any work from me.
Personal finance expert Dogen, the creator of the‘Financial Samurai’blog and the author of the bestseller‘How To Engineer Your Layoff,’has a similar point of view.
“Artificial intelligence serves as a powerful tool, enhancing productivity while simultaneously posing a threat to certain jobs in the future. The key for all workers lies in understandinghow to effectively utilize AI to boost job performance, akin to learning to use a scientific calculator for solving math equations when it was first introduced. Failure to grasp AI’s potential leaves individuals at a disadvantage,” Dogen told Bored Panda.
Engineers. Even when we have AI robot workers, someone will still need to fix the robots.
Artists who draw hands.
Wiping old peoples' butts in nursing homes. Guaranteed job for life.
“In order to cultivate a better partnership with AI, employees will want to think about honing their skills in areas like data analysis, programming, and machine learning, which can enhance their ability to work alongside AI systems. Additionally, cultivating soft skills, such as creativity, emotional intelligence, and complex problem-solving, can make individuals more valuable in roles that require human interaction and nuanced decision-making,” Johnson shared.
I’m an aircraft mechanic, I don’t see AI crawling its nonexistent a*s into the belly of an airplane anytime soon.
First responders.I saw a fire break out once, near my office. It was an old factory where some junkies sometimes gather, so it naturally went up one day. There is a big heavy gate at the entrance of the yard with heavy steel bars and barbed wire. People from aroun the yard tried to open it before the firefighters came, so they had an easier job, but no one could open it, and there is a metalworking factory near it. Angle grinders, saws, nothing could cut it. The junkies used a small hole to get in.Haxomen:The firefighters came, took out some contraption and took the fire out through one of the windows of the factory. Using the Bernoulli principle. They never entered the yard. The fire raged 20 minutes and was done in 5 minutes after they came. I can’t see a situation where AI is so responsive to really complex situations. Maybe some future AGI, but then we will achieve post scarcity.
I’m an occupational therapist in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital helping people regain independence with their daily activities. Hard to see AI taking my place in any time in the near or even mid future.
In the meantime,Johnsonshared some thoughts on how employees can address their fear of becoming obsolete. He said that it’s vital to stay informed about emerging technologies and industry trends. On top of that, employees ought to actively seek opportunities for continuous learning and upskilling.“Building a strong professional network and staying adaptable to change can also help individuals navigate the evolving job market with confidence. By embracing lifelong learning and focusing on skills that complement AI, employees can position themselves for long-term career success in this age of generative AI,” he told us.Personal finance expertDogen, from Financial Samurai, shared with Bored Panda that the most effective strategy to safeguard your job from AI is tocultivate a personal brand. “For white-collar professionals, this involves building a brand centered on qualities such as dependability, hard work, kindness, collaboration, and intelligence. A robust ‘work brand’ encompassing these attributes ensures ongoing employability,” he said.Creatives also need to prioritize brand-building so that they become distinct and stand out from a crowd of competitors.
In the meantime,Johnsonshared some thoughts on how employees can address their fear of becoming obsolete. He said that it’s vital to stay informed about emerging technologies and industry trends. On top of that, employees ought to actively seek opportunities for continuous learning and upskilling.
“Building a strong professional network and staying adaptable to change can also help individuals navigate the evolving job market with confidence. By embracing lifelong learning and focusing on skills that complement AI, employees can position themselves for long-term career success in this age of generative AI,” he told us.
Personal finance expertDogen, from Financial Samurai, shared with Bored Panda that the most effective strategy to safeguard your job from AI is tocultivate a personal brand. “For white-collar professionals, this involves building a brand centered on qualities such as dependability, hard work, kindness, collaboration, and intelligence. A robust ‘work brand’ encompassing these attributes ensures ongoing employability,” he said.
Creatives also need to prioritize brand-building so that they become distinct and stand out from a crowd of competitors.
I’m biased but being a therapist. It’d be easy to make an AI who does it poorly and unethically. But to make even an alright therapist it would be insanely hard…
Politics.Because politicians know they are vastly overpaid, and won’t want to lose that.
Community work/ social work. The more human you are in this field, the better. No one would tolerate or even bother engaging with an AI.
“A memorable brand should evoke a specific image or feeling, providing those who cultivate strong brands with enhanced opportunities and the ability to command premium prices. Consider the pricing contrast between Louis Vuitton, charging $2,000 for a handbag, and Old Navy, which might only command $80 for a similar production cost,” Dogen said.“Creating a personal website is a pivotal aspect of brand-building, allowing individuals to control their image. While maintaining social media profiles on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook is essential, your personal website offers the ideal space to authentically share your story and showcase who you are,” the expert suggested investing some time and energy into this.“Finally, the best way to protect yourself from artificial intelligence is to actually invest in artificial intelligence companies. Everyone can invest in publicly traded companies with AI exposure, such as Microsoft, NVIDIA, Google, and more,” he shared his thoughts.“In addition, everyone can now invest in private AI companies throughopen-ended venture capital fundsinvesting in AI. Of course, there are no guarantees of these AI investments making a positive return, given they are all risk assets. However, if AI does indeed revolutionize the world, investing in AI companies today could pay off in the future.”
“A memorable brand should evoke a specific image or feeling, providing those who cultivate strong brands with enhanced opportunities and the ability to command premium prices. Consider the pricing contrast between Louis Vuitton, charging $2,000 for a handbag, and Old Navy, which might only command $80 for a similar production cost,” Dogen said.
“Creating a personal website is a pivotal aspect of brand-building, allowing individuals to control their image. While maintaining social media profiles on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook is essential, your personal website offers the ideal space to authentically share your story and showcase who you are,” the expert suggested investing some time and energy into this.
“Finally, the best way to protect yourself from artificial intelligence is to actually invest in artificial intelligence companies. Everyone can invest in publicly traded companies with AI exposure, such as Microsoft, NVIDIA, Google, and more,” he shared his thoughts.
“In addition, everyone can now invest in private AI companies throughopen-ended venture capital fundsinvesting in AI. Of course, there are no guarantees of these AI investments making a positive return, given they are all risk assets. However, if AI does indeed revolutionize the world, investing in AI companies today could pay off in the future.”
I install elevators for a living. We are so, so far away from building any machine that has all the physical abilities to get it done, and just as far from making AI that has the wits it takes to figure out how to even do it.Construction on sites in general, it involves a lot of “figuring it out” and “working with what you have”.
Professional athlete.
Comedians. AI can’t write funny things.
“If generative AI delivers on its promised capabilities, the labor market could face significant disruption. Using data on occupational tasks in both the US and Europe, we find that roughly two-thirds of current jobs are exposed to some degree of AI automation, and that generative AI could substitute up to one-fourth of current work,” the report states.
According to Business Insider, some of the jobs that are themost vulnerableto AI include tech jobs (from coders to software engineers) and media jobs (from content creation and journalism to advertising).
Honestly? ITThere’s always going to be something going wrong with computers that are so dumb and unique that AI won’t have any idea how to fix it.
Maintenance electrician here. My job is.There is a new task everyday and nothing of it follows any sort of standard procedure at least for an AI.It would first need to have a fully functioning body that can work without electricity in tight areas before it could even begin to replace me. And at that point we are either having a big war or universal basic income.
A fine-dining chef/cook. Sure, you could make a robot that throws ingredients together in a pan, and perhaps even beautifully plate it, but they lack the ability to taste. A cook needs to taste their food to make sure it tastes the way it’s supposed to. Also, we use our ability to smell to reveal if certain foods have gone bad/rancid/rotten. If a human open a tub of chicken, and it smells sour and rotten, you throw it out. AI/robots can’t smell, so might serve rotten food.
Some media companies are already working to integrate AI tools like ChatGPT into their arsenals. For example, tech news site CNET is already using AI to write some articles. However, they’re far from perfect and have to be corrected. Meanwhile, BuzzFeed is using AI to generate new quizzes and travel guides.Other jobs vulnerable to AI include legal professionals, market researchers, teachers, financial traders, accountants, customer service agents, and graphic designers.If you feel that you’re affected, first of all—don’t panic. Breathe! It’s natural to feel a tad worried about your future when the global job industry is being overhauled so quickly due totech progress. While none of us can stop the rise and spread of AI, what we can do is change how we react to it. No matter our jobs, we can embrace these changes and adapt to them. Or, if you’re in an influential position to do so, you can do your part to help AI tools be used more ethically and less disruptively.From our perspective, it’s quite likely that AI tools are going to become integral in many white-collar positions. However, they (probably) won’t entirely replace human employees. AI is nothing if left unguided. You need talented and insightful workers with good managerial and editing skills to get the most out of them.
Some media companies are already working to integrate AI tools like ChatGPT into their arsenals. For example, tech news site CNET is already using AI to write some articles. However, they’re far from perfect and have to be corrected. Meanwhile, BuzzFeed is using AI to generate new quizzes and travel guides.
Other jobs vulnerable to AI include legal professionals, market researchers, teachers, financial traders, accountants, customer service agents, and graphic designers.
If you feel that you’re affected, first of all—don’t panic. Breathe! It’s natural to feel a tad worried about your future when the global job industry is being overhauled so quickly due totech progress. While none of us can stop the rise and spread of AI, what we can do is change how we react to it. No matter our jobs, we can embrace these changes and adapt to them. Or, if you’re in an influential position to do so, you can do your part to help AI tools be used more ethically and less disruptively.
From our perspective, it’s quite likely that AI tools are going to become integral in many white-collar positions. However, they (probably) won’t entirely replace human employees. AI is nothing if left unguided. You need talented and insightful workers with good managerial and editing skills to get the most out of them.
I think most jobs are safe, which is an unpopular opinion. AI generated content is mediocre at best, and the PR nightmare that follows getting called out on it is a dumpster fire. Maybe in 10-20 years this concept of job security can be revisited. But right now, AI just is quite sub-par at delivery in a non-ideal environment.
CEO / Executives. They’re the ones replacing everyone else with AI while they reap the benefits and relax.
Regulated professions. If you need a license to do the job, like a lawyer, doctor, architect, or CPA, it cannot legally be automated. And, these groups tend to be pretty influential in politics so they can keep those barriers to entry up.
At the end of the day, despite all of our guesses, AI is going to affect the global job industry in ways that we can’t even imagine. The best that we can do is to stay up to date with industry changes, get to grips with at least some relevant AI tools, and…consider learninga new skill or trade on the side.Or, to put it simply: if you’re really, really good at what you do, you’re less likely to be laid off. So the best defense against becoming obsolete is to be great at your job. However, it’s not just our hard skills that are important. It’s our relationships and howwe communicatethat are essential, too. They can mean a huge deal if someone ever has to pick between saving/firing one of two equally skilled workers during cutbacks.
At the end of the day, despite all of our guesses, AI is going to affect the global job industry in ways that we can’t even imagine. The best that we can do is to stay up to date with industry changes, get to grips with at least some relevant AI tools, and…consider learninga new skill or trade on the side.
Or, to put it simply: if you’re really, really good at what you do, you’re less likely to be laid off. So the best defense against becoming obsolete is to be great at your job. However, it’s not just our hard skills that are important. It’s our relationships and howwe communicatethat are essential, too. They can mean a huge deal if someone ever has to pick between saving/firing one of two equally skilled workers during cutbacks.
Sx work. We’ve had robot sx parts for years and human s*x workers still have customers.
Attorney. There are some things even AI won’t do.
Childcare.
If you had to make the hard decision to let one of these people go, who would you choose?
Dentist.
Pilot probably. AI has been flying planes for years. But we still need pilots because we just don’t and can’t trust computers with all those lives like that.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic, dear Pandas. What jobs do you think are going to be the most vulnerable in the Age of AI? Which professions do you personally believe are the safest? How worried are you about getting replaced in your line of work? Are you a techno-optimist, realist, or pessimist?
AI programmers. Can’t have the AI in charge of programming themselves now can we? Someone has to be around to pull the plug/hit the killswitch.
Specialized education. Private school teachers, sports coaches, tutors.
Surgery. So much of it is nuanced and requires precision to a degree that I can never see a non-human entity being able to perform.
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Clergy. An AI cannot replace an ordained person as far as religion is concerned.
People keep on going on about it taking over tech support, but from my experience, I can’t see it happening.Karen from marketing doesn’t even know what cable powers her monitor, so if AI told her to make sure it’s powered on, she wouldn’t have a clue where to start or what she’s looking for.I think it’s a great tool and do use it myself, but you need to understand what it’s actually telling you to do or if 8ts going wrong where it’s gone wrong so you can correct it.
Massage Therapist.
Stage actor.
Pretty much any job that involves working with the disabled.
Doctors. being a physician isn’t about diagnosing the patient … 99% of the work of a GP is the flu. Broken leg? oh the diagnosis is a broken leg. Broken spots are visible on the X-ray. No joke, Sherlock.Being a physician is about making sure the patient follows instructions and showing empathy. Telling people they will not die and will be fine. That’s why 40% of cancer patient follow “alternative medecine and b******t” protocols because they dislike the robotic approach of the effective allopathic medecine. Physicians will have to modify their approach of medecine but will survive just fine.
All construction trades.
C suite and finance. Those in power and the money will never let themselves be replaced.
Pet care.. I can’t see people trusting AI to deal with the level of unpredictability of watching 35 dogs in a playgroup!.
Toilet cleaning!Humans are cheaper.
I sing / play guitar / entertain. My job is safe.
Carpentry.
Unpopular, but trucking. Before anyone tells me I’m an idiot, let me explain.Airplanes would be easier to automate. They haven’t been, despite having an actual autopilot.Trains would be easier to automate. They haven’t, despite having remote controlled units.Our roads are designed for a human to use, with human intuition. An AI driving program has already proved to be exceptionally difficult to accomplish. And that’s without backing trailers into docks, unhooking trailers, unloading…But we could just make a special road for only automated trucks that would be highly efficient, only that sounds a lot like how a train works.Trucking won’t be automated, even if it does just end up like railroading, where the operator is mostly there in case something goes wrong.
AI regulator. Growth area, really.
I’m a ups driver, I think some of the driving and delivering could be done with robots and ai. However navigating a snow covered road out in the country or even their half mile long dirt drive ways. Nah, human drivers barley make it.
Criminal endeavors like drug running and hit men . Other than that, nothing. The only reason the former are safe is because no one who wants to rob a bank will use AI to do it. No firms are making illegal assassin bots. Anything licit, anything can be replaced with AI in the long run, including sex work. I take that back; there is one job that AI won’t take because there will be no demand for it, and that’s the clergy and church employment.
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Indrė Lukošiūtė
Gabija Saveiskyte
Rūta Zumbrickaitė
Work & Money
