AI-Resistant Jobs

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has led to concerns about the future of jobs, with some experts warning that automation could lead to the loss of millions of jobs. A report from Goldman Sachs predicts that AI could replace a quarter of all current human jobs, resulting in 300 million jobs being lost across the EU and US. However, not all jobs are equally at risk. Some roles that require distinctly human skills, such as emotional intelligence and creativity, are less likely to be automated.

According to Martin Ford, author of "Rule of the Robots: How Artificial Intelligence Will Transform Everything," jobs that involve genuinely creative work, such as those in science, medicine, and law, are relatively insulated from automation. Similarly, jobs that require sophisticated interpersonal relationships, such as nursing, business consulting, and investigative journalism, are also less likely to be automated. Finally, jobs that require a lot of mobility, dexterity, and problem-solving ability in unpredictable environments, such as trade jobs like electricians, plumbers, and welders, are also safe from automation.

However, even jobs that are relatively insulated from automation are likely to change in response to AI. For example, doctors may use AI to detect cancer, but the role of the doctor is unlikely to be completely replaced by machines. Developing complementary skills that are distinctly human, such as social skills, could help people learn to work alongside AI.

It's also worth noting that education level and pay are not necessarily defenses against AI takeover. In some cases, more educated workers may be more threatened by automation than those with less education. Therefore, seeking roles in dynamic, shifting environments that include unpredictable tasks is a good way to stave off job loss to AI, at least for the time being.

Questions

What are the three categories of jobs that are likely to be insulated from the automation threat?

What are some tasks that AI is not yet capable of performing?

How might human jobs change as AI becomes more ubiquitous in the workplace?

Is an advanced education or high-paying position a defense against AI takeover?

Which jobs might be threatened more by automation, more educated workers or less educated workers?