Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

AI proof jobs

148 replies

MissRain · 18/03/2025 19:56

My sister works with AI and explained how AI already saves man hours and her boss is looking to reduce the team over time. I am so worried about the future job prospects for the next generation. Other than cook, plumber, brick layer, physio therapist, surgeon, what jobs may be less likely to be affected in the near future? I guess anything that requires manual skill and labour as robotics will be less likely to advance as fast. How will you advise you young people?

OP posts:
MissRain · 19/03/2025 07:04

The number of existing paid jobs will definitely go down as AI will improve efficiency and instead of say 10 of one type of role companies will need 2 as the 2 can do the job of 10 easily, quickly and efficiently with the use of AI (that already exists today). AI that is now being developed will be even more capable. Agreed that nursery nurses and nurses in general are probably also safer than most. Not sure about doctors, lawyers, accountants. Ai won't replace all but reduce the number of jobs.

OP posts:
Radiatorvalves · 19/03/2025 07:09

The Head at my DCs school said that when he started there his job was to get kids into the best universities. Now (and this was a few years ago) it is to prepare them to do the jobs that don’t yet exist. Apparently about 60% of the jobs that existed in 1940 no longer exist … it’s an evolution that is speeding up.

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 19/03/2025 07:10

AI is going to impact the vast majority of jobs (if it hadn't already).

It's not necessarily about replacing a job, but changing how they are done. Inclining many of the jobs that have been listed as 'AI proof' on this thread.
We need to embrace it I'm afraid.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

RampantIvy · 19/03/2025 07:13

Radiography
Caring for the old, ill and vulnerable.

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 19/03/2025 07:25

RampantIvy · 19/03/2025 07:13

Radiography
Caring for the old, ill and vulnerable.

AI is already being used in radiography.
And in lots of healthcare jobs. It's a very effective diagnostic tool.

westisbest1982 · 19/03/2025 07:27

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 19/03/2025 07:10

AI is going to impact the vast majority of jobs (if it hadn't already).

It's not necessarily about replacing a job, but changing how they are done. Inclining many of the jobs that have been listed as 'AI proof' on this thread.
We need to embrace it I'm afraid.

I have a problem with the idea of embracing IA because I foresee a future when millions of us will be out of work. I’m talking within 20 years. So what the fuck will we do if we can’t pay our mortgages and rent?

Happypeoplearehappy · 19/03/2025 07:28

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 19/03/2025 07:25

AI is already being used in radiography.
And in lots of healthcare jobs. It's a very effective diagnostic tool.

AI has been used for years in the NHS for diagnostics.

RampantIvy · 19/03/2025 07:28

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 19/03/2025 07:25

AI is already being used in radiography.
And in lots of healthcare jobs. It's a very effective diagnostic tool.

How would AI do the ultrasound scans?

JurgenKloppsTeeth · 19/03/2025 07:35

I have no interest in being counselled by AI. I think the prospect would make me feel even more depressed. There are plenty of jobs where it makes sense to use it to some extent but I don’t think it can ever fully replace human interaction.

I also wonder what all the people whose jobs are being replaced by AI are going to do? Who’s going to pay the resulting benefits bill? It’s not as if the birth rate is dropping significantly.

I find the whole prospect joyless and depressing.

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 19/03/2025 07:40

How would AI do the ultrasound scans?

It doesn't do the scans. It's used as a diagnostic tool.
Many jobs won't be replaced by AI, but AI will change the way the jobs are done.

I work at a university and every single department has to report on how we're using AI to teach, in our curriculum and to prepare our students for jobs.
We've even built an entire new building for our health courses which is equipped for teaching with AI.

verycloakanddaggers · 19/03/2025 07:43

MissRain · 18/03/2025 20:09

That can quite easily be addressed with apps and AI you don't really need a human counsellor if you have a well programmed AI. Ditto for any legal advice I was thinking that Citizens advice bureau could save many volunteer hours by creating an AI app

Edited

There's absolutely no way an app can replace a live therapist, it's entirely about a human relationship built on trust and boundaries.

SwanOfThoseThings · 19/03/2025 07:47

There are a lot of jobs involving human interaction that could be done by AI, but the humans wouldn't like it. How many of us have sat in front of a computer swearing at a chatbot that can't understand the nuance of a problem?

verycloakanddaggers · 19/03/2025 07:49

MissRain · 19/03/2025 07:04

The number of existing paid jobs will definitely go down as AI will improve efficiency and instead of say 10 of one type of role companies will need 2 as the 2 can do the job of 10 easily, quickly and efficiently with the use of AI (that already exists today). AI that is now being developed will be even more capable. Agreed that nursery nurses and nurses in general are probably also safer than most. Not sure about doctors, lawyers, accountants. Ai won't replace all but reduce the number of jobs.

You're making massive assumptions that society's needs and wants will stagnate whilst the AI capacity just appropriates human jobs.

Needs are rising - larger population, ageing population, climate change, water shortages, transition to net zero - all these will create new needs so the job market will evolve. Wants have always risen.

AI will change every job and completely replace some, but you can't accurately predict what the impact will be on the overall number of human workers in any given decade ahead.

westisbest1982 · 19/03/2025 07:50

SwanOfThoseThings · 19/03/2025 07:47

There are a lot of jobs involving human interaction that could be done by AI, but the humans wouldn't like it. How many of us have sat in front of a computer swearing at a chatbot that can't understand the nuance of a problem?

Ultimately it will come down to money for most consumers e.g why pay £200 for a private consultation with a Doctor when you could pay £70 to see an AI doctor. Also, there’s been research that shows that AI doctors are more empathetic than human doctors).

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 19/03/2025 07:52

I have a problem with the idea of embracing IA because I foresee a future when millions of us will be out of work. I’m talking within 20 years. So what the fuck will we do if we can’t pay our mortgages and rent?

In the vast majority of cases AI will change the nature of the job rather than replace it.
New jobs will emerge as they always do.

There will continue to be a shift in the labour market and people need to prepare themselves for that. Understanding that AI isn't going anywhere is an important part of that process.

taxguru · 19/03/2025 07:53

MathsMagpie · 18/03/2025 21:17

teaching to a point, I suppose they will always need people keeping young children on site safely, sorting out toiletting issues and general behaviour..

I think very differently.

Teaching is a prime example where AI can pay dividends as it can tailor "lessons", activities and worksheets/tasks personalised to the ability of the pupil based on prior answers and engagement. It can build up a personality profile as to how the pupil learns best, i.e. listening, reading, watching, etc., and what type of teaching medium suits them, i.e. reading a chapter of a text book, or watching a video, or listening to an "old fashioned" style of lecture, etc. It could be a game changer to scrap the "one size fits all" approach of 30 kids crammed into a noisy classroom all having to learn the same thing in the same way. It would also open up a more flexible curriculum where pupils would be free to explore different options within subjects and a much broader range of subjects. It would also scrap the need for examinations as the AI "Bot" could build up a full history of the pupil's work and achievements and progress, and give "grades" akin to GCSE and A level exams, at the end of the courses or specific ages, etc (could also be extended to some professional qualifications, degrees, etc)

The issues you mention are more of a social care and security type of role, so instead of traditional teachers, the AI could "teach" children in the home under supervision of adult family members to feed, toilet and water them or in a "school" setting it could be paid security style staff to ensure that they are safe in school, don't go wandering off, are in the right place at the right time, alongside "caring" staff dealing with food, water, toileting etc depending on age.

It's never really been a good use of qualified teacher time to deal with classroom disruption, "caring" activities, etc.

We'd still need "teachers" for more practical, hands on and technical skills requiring pupils to actually "do" things, so maybe alongside AI, we beef up school laboratories (woodwork, metalwork, mechanics, science labs, robotics, etc) to train people how to use their hands alongside computerised equipment.

SwanOfThoseThings · 19/03/2025 07:55

westisbest1982 · 19/03/2025 07:50

Ultimately it will come down to money for most consumers e.g why pay £200 for a private consultation with a Doctor when you could pay £70 to see an AI doctor. Also, there’s been research that shows that AI doctors are more empathetic than human doctors).

Are people going to trust AI doctors? I have the 'wellbeing agent' set up on Co-pilot - all it does is tell me what I could find out by Googling, but much more quickly and in a format of my choice. For example, it wasn't able to diagnose the relatively rare condition a consultant has diagnosed me with - it could suggest a list of possible causes for my symptoms, but it couldn't say which one I had.

mintchocolatecoffee · 19/03/2025 07:56

MissRain · 18/03/2025 20:09

That can quite easily be addressed with apps and AI you don't really need a human counsellor if you have a well programmed AI. Ditto for any legal advice I was thinking that Citizens advice bureau could save many volunteer hours by creating an AI app

Edited

Actually that’s not true - AI is no substitute for actual therapy. It can give advice. It can’t give the human to human relationship that actually heals trauma.

taxguru · 19/03/2025 07:57

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 19/03/2025 07:52

I have a problem with the idea of embracing IA because I foresee a future when millions of us will be out of work. I’m talking within 20 years. So what the fuck will we do if we can’t pay our mortgages and rent?

In the vast majority of cases AI will change the nature of the job rather than replace it.
New jobs will emerge as they always do.

There will continue to be a shift in the labour market and people need to prepare themselves for that. Understanding that AI isn't going anywhere is an important part of that process.

I agree. People said the same at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. Things change. Old jobs disappear, new jobs appear. It's the way it's been for a few centuries. People need to learn (and be taught) transferrable skills rather than knowledge, so a much greater emphasis on logic, analysis, comprehension, social skills, manual skills, etc., and much less emphasis on knowing dates, timelines, facts etc (which are easily available at the click of google these days on everyone's smart phone). The more skills that someone has, the easily they'll be able to pivot from one type of work to another as they go through life.

westisbest1982 · 19/03/2025 07:59

I mean this respectfully - @SerenityNowSerenityNow you are being very naive to believe that we’re all, or most of us, be working with AI rather than AI replacing our jobs. AI keeps getting better and better - it has to, because there’s so much money involved in the development. It has already effectively decimated industries / roles, copywriting for example. Employers will do anything to cut costs and we all know how expensive humans are to employ.

Yerroblemom1923 · 19/03/2025 07:59

Needanewnamey · 18/03/2025 19:57

Nursing, midwifery, prostitution and cleaning.

I agree. Pick one of these and you'll be sorted. No AI can properly clean a toilet or birth a baby.

Yerroblemom1923 · 19/03/2025 08:01

mintchocolatecoffee · 19/03/2025 07:56

Actually that’s not true - AI is no substitute for actual therapy. It can give advice. It can’t give the human to human relationship that actually heals trauma.

And AI can't give you a hug when you're in the therapy room drowning in a sea of tears. Therapists' jobs are pretty safe, I reckon.

frozendaisy · 19/03/2025 08:03

MissRain · 18/03/2025 21:01

What about jobs that aren't manual?

Secretary

anything with taste or smell, scented candle maker

Yerroblemom1923 · 19/03/2025 08:06

And yes, as pp said, it will mean a shake up of the job market and I'm guessing more people will go into manual jobs that are AI-proof. Might not be a bad thing if cleaners, hospital porters, builders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians etc are actually given the recognition deserved rather than being "looked down on" as they have previously been. Supposed "unskilled" labour may take on a whole new level.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 19/03/2025 08:06

DSis lost her job to AI last year and can't find a new job. She's a copywriter. DM was on at her about getting a good hair cut and polishing her shoes etc, then I got Chat GPT to write about what DSis used to cover, and DM couldn't believe it.