According to a study by Microsoft researchers that analyzed more than 200,000 chat records using Bing Copilot, the jobs most exposed to automation include interpreters, editors, customer service representatives, as well as some sales roles and passenger attendants. The total number of jobs at risk in the United States amounts to more than 8.4 million.
On the other hand, the study showed that jobs requiring specialized technical skills or precise manual work remain the least exposed to automation, such as bulldozer operators, ship engineers, fire prevention supervisors, and certain highly specialized medical professions such as oral surgeons and surgical assistants.
The researchers noted that AI will not necessarily replace all these jobs but will change how they are performed. It could boost productivity or reduce the need for larger workforces, depending on the profession.
In this context, Kai-Fu Lee, one of the world’s leading AI experts, warned that half of today’s jobs may be affected within 15 years, stressing the importance of retraining the workforce to face this “new industrial revolution.” He added that AI is still limited in innovation, strategic planning, and emotional human interaction, affirming that human capabilities will continue to be required in areas of creativity and complex coordination.
The study highlights the economic and social challenges that come with the rapid adoption of AI and underscores the need for policies that balance automation with worker protection, focusing on the development of skills that AI cannot easily replicate.