Artificial intelligence: The 9+1 professions it may soon replace
The AI revolution is changing the way we interact with technology. With each passing day, we are witnessing more and more advanced artificial intelligence and robots. Every now and then, we come across a report or a video showing a talking humanoid robot or a dog-like robot entertaining people with its stunts.
What jobs will artificial intelligence replace?
One of the most extreme historical examples of job loss due to technology involves the mechanization of agriculture in the United States. At the end of the 19th century, about half of American workers were employed in this primary sector.
Today their number varies between 1 and 2%. The advent of tractors and other agricultural technologies irrevocably destroyed millions of jobs. This transition led to significant short- and medium-term unemployment as unemployed peasants migrated to the cities to work in factories. Today nearly 80% of the American workforce is employed in service industries.
The key question is whether the revolution in the labor market due to the effects of artificial intelligence will lead to a similar result. AI is a general purpose systemic technology not unlike electricity that will eventually permeate and invade every aspect of our economy and society.
Considering the convenience and comfort it offers, people are open to incorporating artificial intelligence into different aspects of their daily lives. However, the transition is very gradual and it may take several years for AI to fully take over your work.
1. Customer Service Representatives
Most of the time, customer queries and problems are recurring. Answering these questions does not require high emotional or social intelligence. Therefore, artificial intelligence can be used to provide automated answers to frequently asked questions.
These questions may include delivery status, payment confirmation, order cancellation or refund status. If the bot cannot handle queries, they will be forwarded to a human customer service representative.
2. Reception staff
Many multinational companies now use robots at their reception desks. Even calls are handled by AI now. You may have experienced this while reserving a table at a restaurant where you can use the online scheduling system instead of talking to an actual representative. The most advanced AI receptionists like AimeReception can see, hear, understand and talk to visitors and customers.
3. Accountants
Many companies are now using artificial intelligence for their bookkeeping practices. AI-based bookkeeping services provide an efficient accounting system and flexibility and security since they are available as cloud-based services. All you need to do is enter your daily transactions into the software and it will take care of the rest.
Artificial intelligence will ensure that data is collected, stored and analyzed correctly. Using an AI accounting service is significantly less expensive than paying an employee to do the same job.
Software products such as Automation Anywhere, Datamatics and Blue Prism can automate various office tasks. Systems can be trained to extract and “study” data from an Excel file.
Then there is the data analysis. Products like PricewaterhouseCoopers Halo, for example, can process all of a company’s data to look for anomalies rather than relying on an audit. Humans will still be involved in robot training and at higher levels of analysis, but the tedious work – data entry, copying and pasting, sorting and rearranging – will be eliminated.
4. Sellers
Gone are the days when companies required salespeople for advertising and retail activities. Advertising has shifted to the web and social media landscapes. Built-in target marketing capabilities in social media allow advertisers to create tailored content for different types of audiences.
Another can use self-serve ad markets and create ads. Brands work to connect with customers using content engagement strategies.
Retailers are democratizing shopping experiences by allowing customers to research products themselves. You do not need to be accompanied by a salesperson when shopping or checkout.
Artificial intelligence can learn your shopping behaviors and patterns and recommend products accordingly. One of the best examples of AI in retail is Amazon Go , the world’s most advanced checkout-free shopping technology.
5. Taxi and truck drivers
Ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft have revolutionized the taxi industry. These companies are now focusing on autonomous driving, where the robot drives cars. It is inevitable that taxis and buses will all be autonomous and fully autonomous in a few years. Every year, new AI features are added to new car models.
It’s not just about cost savings, as there is currently a shortage of truck drivers. As it is, after all, a difficult job with not very attractive pay. According to a report by the LA Times, nearly 1.7 million American truck drivers will be replaced by robots in the next ten years.
In addition to Uber and Lyft, Waymo (backed by Google), Cruise (backed by GM), Intel and others are among those deeply invested in the utility of getting people out of driving. Waymo is leading the way in bringing a real product to market.
6. Retail Services
The main responsibilities of store clerks in a retail store include tracking inventory, collecting payments, and answering questions with the goal of generating sales. As any supermarket customer knows, employees are already being cut out of the checkout process as stores gradually shift that responsibility to consumers.
Seattle’s Amazon Go store is an extreme view of where we’re headed. There will also be devices that move around, handle goods and answer questions. Tally, from Simbe Robotics, performs the repetitive and time-consuming tasks of checking for out-of-stock items, undersold items, misplaced items and pricing errors. It can work with existing store layouts and the device can move alongside customers during shopping hours.
The most difficult part of retail work for robots is and will be human interaction, but even here, companies are moving up. SoftBank Robotics has sold thousands of its Pepper robots in Japan, arguably the biggest hub for humanoid robot development.
7. Proofreaders and Translators
There are many AI-powered tools available for writers to use to self-check their writing. The natural language processing capability of such AI tools allows writers to check their writing for readability issues, spelling errors, and grammatical errors.
Grammarly is a good example of such a tool. You can translate your writing into hundreds of other languages thanks to artificial intelligence tools like DeepL and Google Translate.
8. Security Personnel
The loss of human life is of great concern to militaries and security agencies worldwide. Therefore, more companies are now looking at how artificial intelligence can be used to replace workers and reduce the risk of human loss in military operations.
Better and cheaper low-light cameras are already reducing the role of security guards.
Artificial intelligence is also changing the way wars will be fought on future battlefields. While the infantry will still be on the battlefield, the corresponding humans can stay out of harm’s way for longer thanks to the robots.
In concept, these robots are very similar to security guards, except they can use deadly weapons. The first versions (one has already been developed by the Israeli army) are based on vehicles, with the ability to drive autonomously.
9. Assistant Surgeons
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics have opened up truly revolutionary possibilities for doctors and surgeons. Considering that robotic doctors are perfectly capable of performing critical operations, they are expected to completely take over the role of assistant surgeon.
Also, robotic doctors can eliminate the chances of human error in surgeries. A robot called the Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot (Star) has already performed a successful keyhole operation on pigs without human assistance.
Pharmaceutical laboratories are using AI technology to accelerate research and new drug discovery and improve internal pharmaceutical processes.
10. Courier Services
Multinational companies such as Walmart and Amazon are already working to replace delivery techniques with robots and drones. Although drone delivery is gradually being implemented, it will definitely take over courier services in the future. Artificial intelligence is helping these companies streamline various supply chain and logistics functions.