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Original poster

So what jobs are AI proof then?

220 replies

StrongJamie · 07/04/2023 15:35

Based on recent media report we are facing an imminent (?) AI revolution.

I imagine that doctors, teachers, lecturers, accountants and civil servants can easily be replaced by AI and tailored professional AI software. I am guessing that jobs that require intricate physical handling are less at risk as it would be expense to mass produce the Hardware. Hospital doctors are more at risk than ward nurses but less than GPs who soon will be obsolete.

It will be a good while until they can mass produce robots that do humans jobs, which require a lot of running around and haptic skill but some jobs don't need a person, they just need the right software (e.g. GPs).

I imagine it like this, you log onto your GP AI service, they know all your medical history and also all the up to date epidemiological data of your neighbourhood as well as your biomarkers, pulse, heart rate etc uploaded via your smart watch continuously. The system knows about all possible diseases and conditions and based on your biomarkers and symptoms knows how to signpost you for further tests or what to prescribe. Job done, no more GP.

Teachers? No need. Ai robots, virtual or physical deliver synchronous teaching the rest is done online.

Please pick holes in my assumptions or add to the list of soon to be obsolete professions.

Which ones are ai bullet proof?

OP posts:
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7
Florissant · 09/04/2023 12:52

There is precisely zero chance of AI taking over from teachers. This idea has been bruited about since the 1950s with the rise of the post-WWII theory, behaviourism.

Florenz · 09/04/2023 12:59

I think droids will replace children which will make teachers obsolete. Maybe rich people will continue to have children meaning there will still be a need for a few highly skilled teachers.

JamSandle · 09/04/2023 12:59

I cant imagine any job being AI proof. That's the problem.

Interested in this thread?

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General health Jobs
AlaskaThunderfuckHiiiiiiiii · 09/04/2023 13:09

I honestly think some form of robot to fill in the gaps in carers would be good, a robot to help you up and make breakfast and give meds could be a way forward and that could free up some of the human carers to provide the human side of contact

Sadik · 09/04/2023 13:18

I suspect in many cases we'll use AI / robots to support human workers and give a better outcome for the same time input. So for example, some basic healthcare & lots of admin being delivered via AI, freeing up GP time to spend with patients. Or heavy lifting & turning in social care work being supported with robotic technology, meaning that one carer needed for a visit not two - and therefore double the number of visits possible.

With the demographic shifts happening, freeing up the productive age workforce from routine jobs that can be done by AI has the potential to be a good thing, not a bad one, at least in the longer term.

LexMitior · 09/04/2023 13:19

I reckon it will eat a lot of civil service jobs which involve writing. Low level journalism, copywriting, commercial manuals, that sort of work looks over to me. Computer programming is also dead.

AI needs a large data set to best humans. The reason it does so well is the data. It can only scrape up what is given to it. The people who will have good jobs are those who can manipulate it well.

AlaskaThunderfuckHiiiiiiiii · 09/04/2023 13:21

I do think nursing and healthcare is safe for some time though, AI will never be able to replicate human on human empathy or take on board the many nuances of health situations, there can be a lot of give and take between health professional and patient and coming to compromises that AI will never be able to do, at least not in my life time

Luckydip1 · 09/04/2023 13:21

StrongJamie · 07/04/2023 15:35

Based on recent media report we are facing an imminent (?) AI revolution.

I imagine that doctors, teachers, lecturers, accountants and civil servants can easily be replaced by AI and tailored professional AI software. I am guessing that jobs that require intricate physical handling are less at risk as it would be expense to mass produce the Hardware. Hospital doctors are more at risk than ward nurses but less than GPs who soon will be obsolete.

It will be a good while until they can mass produce robots that do humans jobs, which require a lot of running around and haptic skill but some jobs don't need a person, they just need the right software (e.g. GPs).

I imagine it like this, you log onto your GP AI service, they know all your medical history and also all the up to date epidemiological data of your neighbourhood as well as your biomarkers, pulse, heart rate etc uploaded via your smart watch continuously. The system knows about all possible diseases and conditions and based on your biomarkers and symptoms knows how to signpost you for further tests or what to prescribe. Job done, no more GP.

Teachers? No need. Ai robots, virtual or physical deliver synchronous teaching the rest is done online.

Please pick holes in my assumptions or add to the list of soon to be obsolete professions.

Which ones are ai bullet proof?

Seeing as GPS are still using the post rather than emails I don't think we need to worry just yet!

Luckydip1 · 09/04/2023 13:25

vernonb · 08/04/2023 06:30

Many construction jobs currently seem low priority to be soon replaced by AI, plastering for example? plumbing? Gardening is another one that come to mind.
Eventually there will be an AI solution for everything and a robot for every individual task, but managing the interfaces between one AI system to another will yet require us humans to stick around for a long time.
Again, an example from the construction industry - to deliver a building require endless interfaces between many entities of the supply chain which is long and complex. E.g from cutting a tree somewhere in the world to making it a fine bespoke piece of joinery which is then built in another part of the world in a very particular way combining many materials also sourced from different parts of the world and finally delivered and properly fitted on site. There are possible 100s interfaces involved in making this happen and across multiple geographic locations. Some steps will be replaced with AI but no single AI software can do it all (i.e. cut the tree and fit the finished kitchen) or at least it's hard to imagine.
That may imply that the long standing job/skill to survive is project management.

I just can't see the construction industry changing. Look at prefab construction, it has many benefits but has never really taken off.

HotSince82 · 09/04/2023 13:35

Oh what a lovely future we have to look forward to.

AI performing the majority of formerly professional roles and the small generation underneath us caring for us in humongous care homes.

MySerenity · 09/04/2023 13:41

Good luck getting AI to intubate, insert lines, do surgery...

cloudonego · 09/04/2023 18:02

I reckon it will eat a lot of civil service jobs which involve writing.

Again, this is showing far too much faith in the civil service's ability to modernise. It's barely utilising current technology to a basic standard of automation, never mind more complex AI.

Liebig · 09/04/2023 23:47

AlaskaThunderfuckHiiiiiiiii · 09/04/2023 13:21

I do think nursing and healthcare is safe for some time though, AI will never be able to replicate human on human empathy or take on board the many nuances of health situations, there can be a lot of give and take between health professional and patient and coming to compromises that AI will never be able to do, at least not in my life time

People literally 18 months ago said GPT-4 in its present state wasn't likely until 2050, lol.

echt · 10/04/2023 00:05

StrongJamie · 08/04/2023 16:10

Don't get me wrong, I don't think at all online is preferable to in person teaching I'd hate with a passion it for my kids as it leaves out the important social interactions. But it did work, the technology is there and teaching can be and is being delivered online. Our secondary moves online whenever face to face is not possible. You can, however, absolutely have engaging teaching that happens online, it happens in the majority of universities. I personally would be surprised if schools in 25 years resembled schools today and the teaching profession will change with it.

Just because teaching can be delivered online doesn't mean it works; ask the teachers and pupils. I worked umpteen lockdowns in Melbourne, where every teacher is given a laptop to work with and has tech support. All pupils have a laptop, though they have to bring their own - yes fewer breakages when the school doesn't provide it. Funny that. Hmm We were well-resourced so it's not about tech savviness or programmes. People want people.

As for university stuff being engaging online: The students want to be there, school age children are compelled. And no, I'm not convinced that because a lesson is enagaging ( by whose standards?) that people are engaged. I can't think of one university student I know who didn't thoroughly hate non-stop online lectures.

Online teaching and learning is also predicated on everyone being able to access the lessons and having the equipment to do so. Do you really think the UK government is willing to fund this? Never happen.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 10/04/2023 00:10

If your current workplace still faces and cashes the odd cheque, then you will be fine!

stevalnamechanger · 10/04/2023 00:23

rewilded · 07/04/2023 16:36

Same for lawyers.. AI couldn't possibly undertake the fair trial.

There would be no bias so I can see AI becoming even more important in the future - only top lawyers will still have work.

Of course there is bias in AI

There is a documentary on this on Netflix

mellicauli · 10/04/2023 00:34

Healthcare is certainly not completely safe. AI can already look at scans and find signs of cancer more accurately than humans.

AI does also burn a huge amount of energy. So I think jobs in that sector, especially alternative energy are pretty safe.

Also any career needing creativity, empathy, nuance is pretty safe.

I think we're going to get quickly attuned to recognising copy written by AI, with it's breezy emptiness and we will disengage. I think the authentic, original, human voice will ultimately be the one we want to listen to.

People will also catch on and stop giving anything of value away for free on the internet for AI to plunder. (Says she having done exactly that, doh)

Florenz · 10/04/2023 00:42

I think in 100 years time the world will be a very different place. There will be a lot less people than today, probably only a few million, and robots will be doing nearly all the work.

Liebig · 10/04/2023 00:55

Florenz · 10/04/2023 00:42

I think in 100 years time the world will be a very different place. There will be a lot less people than today, probably only a few million, and robots will be doing nearly all the work.

You're off by a few decades. And it's not the AI that's going to be reducing the population either. And I wouldn't worry about robots stealing your job, for that matter.

Shinyandnew1 · 10/04/2023 00:56

I wouldn’t think any sort of AI would be a patch on an experienced teacher when it comes to meeting the needs of 30 six year olds. When I think of my last class with 3 children with autism, 2 with nappies that needed changing every 3 hours, one with hearing aids that need cleaning and checking twice daily, let alone catering for the needs of all of the others.

Liebig · 10/04/2023 01:58

Shinyandnew1 · 10/04/2023 00:56

I wouldn’t think any sort of AI would be a patch on an experienced teacher when it comes to meeting the needs of 30 six year olds. When I think of my last class with 3 children with autism, 2 with nappies that needed changing every 3 hours, one with hearing aids that need cleaning and checking twice daily, let alone catering for the needs of all of the others.

And my calculator is terrible at making coffee. I think you're mistaking AI for robotics here.

Original poster
StrongJamie · 10/04/2023 08:52

You don't need a teacher to deal with nappies and hearing aids but a caring support worker. The government will do whatever works out best value, AI will probably be better value for money than salaried teachers when the technology is mature. Maybe the role of teachers will change from being in charge of a physical classroom to managing the AI and the physical support workers on site.

OP posts:
Luckydip1 · 10/04/2023 10:12

AI won't be able to replace teachers anytime soon.

Shinyandnew1 · 10/04/2023 10:31

I wonder what people think an ‘AI’ classroom might look like to meet everyone’s needs then?

If it’s one screen at the front with AI tech teaching lessons all day, how will that be properly modified or adapted to meet all learners’ needs? If it needs individuals to be plugged into a computer so that the work is tailored to everyone’s starting point, then schools are going to need a lot more funding.

Ensuring every child in every class has a fully functioning laptop which are properly maintained, with support staff on hand to be in charge of toileting/dealing with conflicts/stopping them leaving the room etc etc, this would probably be a lot more expensive than just paying one teacher to do it all.

RedRosie · 10/04/2023 11:12

AI poetry is excruciating. So I don't think most poets have much to worry about 😂.

Ask it to write you a short poem on any given subject, and enjoy!