Microsoft's research team has tried to determine in its latest study which professions are most likely to be replaced by generative AI tools, based on real usage data.

The basis is the real usage data of Bing Copilot

Microsoft researchers examined around 200,000 anonymous and privacy-compliant conversations between users and Bing Copilot. Based on this data, a methodology for assessing the applicability of artificial intelligence was developed, which determines how vulnerable a given profession is from the perspective of AI automation.

The analysis considered two factors:

• how frequently AI tools are used in the given field
• how effective those applications are

Who are the most vulnerable?

The analysis found that the professions most at risk of automation are those based on information processing, written communication, consulting, or teaching. These include:

• Translators
• Historians
• Sales representatives
• Writers and authors
• Customer service representatives

These professions coincide with the types of problems that are well solved by language models.

Who are the safest?

In contrast to the above, jobs that are considered more secure are those that are physical in nature and require motor or technical skills. These include:

• Heavy equipment operators
• Home workers
• Roofers
• Massage therapists
• Dishwashers

In these fields, AI has little applicability, as technology is still unable to replicate human physical labor.

Limitations and warnings of the research

Microsoft's research team also notes that the results should be interpreted with caution.
Here are some important observations:

• AI still cannot fully replace any profession; it mainly assists in solving certain problems, such as writing, searching, or communicating.
• The data does not include future technological developments that could significantly change the picture in the coming years.
• Some professions that received high ratings (for example, historians) are actually heavily based on human intuition and experience, which may not be fully reflected in the database.
• Microsoft has a conflict of interest, as it has made significant investments in the AI field and may be interested in presenting its capabilities in the best light.
  

The future of the job market is still unclear

Despite the belief that AI could eliminate certain professions, the authors of the research note that job changes do not necessarily have to reduce wages or employment. They remind us of the example of ATMs, where automation did not eliminate tellers but changed the nature of their work and even contributed to the increase of branches.

The research also emphasizes that it is important to continue studying the emergence of new jobs and the redefinition of old professions. Measurements of AI applicability at this moment are just a "snapshot in time," and technology continues to evolve.

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Microsoft's research highlights that AI supports work more than it fully replaces it. However, the job market is on the brink of change, and it is important for professionals and policymakers to follow technological developments, assess their impact on various professions, and prepare for the new reality.

The future of work may not disappear but change. Low-paid physical professions may prove to be more resilient than high-paid intellectual jobs. But everything will depend on how new work models will be built in conjunction with technology.

Source: Futurism

*The article was also prepared using data from AI․