Will AI replace human jobs? Which occupations are likely to be affected?

Hello. The discussion about whether AI will replace human jobs is quite prevalent, much like how people worried about cars replacing coachmen over a century ago, or computers replacing accountants a few decades ago.

My view is: AI won't completely 'replace' humans, but it will fundamentally 'transform' the way we work. This is more akin to a 'major overhaul' of job content rather than a simple, blunt 'you're out, I'm in' scenario.

Imagine AI as a super-competent intern or a powerful toolbox. There are some tasks it can perform quickly and efficiently, but there are others it simply cannot do.

Which Jobs Are More 'Vulnerable'?

The first to be affected are jobs that are highly repetitive, follow fixed procedures, and require little complex emotion or creativity.

1. 'Manual Labor' Type Jobs:

   • Data Entry Clerks/Administrative Assistants: Inputting information from paper into a computer, or copying and pasting from one system to another. AI can do this tirelessly and without errors.
   • Production Line Quality Inspectors/Assemblers: For example, checking phone screens for scratches, or tightening a specific screw. Machine vision and robotic arms are more consistent than human eyes and hands.
   • Customer Service/Telemarketers (Entry-Level): Answering common questions ('Where's my order?' 'How do I return an item?'), or making sales calls based on a script. Many of these roles are already being taken over by intelligent voice assistants and chatbots.

2. 'Entry-Level Analyst' Type Jobs:

   • Bank Tellers/Junior Accountants: Processing standardized transactions, bookkeeping, and expense claims. These financial operations with clear rules are more efficiently handled by algorithms.
   • Junior Translators: Translating a general article from one language to another. Current translation software is already very powerful; while it may not achieve perfect 'fidelity, expressiveness, and elegance,' it's sufficient for daily communication and information retrieval.
   • Document Review (Paralegals/Insurance Adjusters): Finding contracts containing specific keywords among thousands of documents. AI can read thousands of pages in a second, far faster than a human.

As you can see, the commonality among these jobs is 'patternization.' As long as there's enough data for AI to learn from, it can grasp the patterns and then perform better than humans.

Which Jobs Are Relatively 'Safe,' and Even Empowered by AI?

Jobs that require genuine creativity, complex decision-making, emotional interaction, and interpersonal relationships will remain largely untouched by AI for a long time.

1. Jobs Requiring 'Humanity' and 'Warmth':

   • Doctors, Nurses, Psychologists, Teachers: These professions not only demand specialized knowledge but also empathy, communication skills, and humanistic care. AI can assist doctors in reviewing scans and analyzing data, but the final diagnosis, communication of treatment plans, and comforting patients still require a human touch. You certainly wouldn't want a cold machine to deliver bad news, would you?
   • Managers, Team Leaders: Motivating teams, navigating complex interpersonal relationships, and building corporate culture—these are all arts centered around 'people.'

2. Jobs Requiring 'Inspiration' and 'Aesthetics':

   • Scientists, Artists, Writers, Designers, Chefs: AI can generate paintings, write articles, and design posters, but currently, it primarily serves as an efficient tool or a source of inspiration. Truly defining trends, proposing groundbreaking theories, or creating soul-stirring works still requires unique human imagination and deep thought. AI can help you sketch 100 drafts, but it's the designer who ultimately decides which solution is best and imbues it with soul.

3. Jobs Requiring Handling 'Unexpected Situations' and 'Complex Environments':

   • Plumbers, Electricians, Experienced Architects: These jobs require dealing with various unforeseen contingencies in the real world. For instance, a robot controlled by AI might be stumped by oddly shaped pipes in an old house, but an experienced professional can spot the problem at a glance.
   • Strategists, Senior Researchers: These roles require integrating knowledge from diverse fields to make long-term, ambiguous decisions without standard answers.

In Summary

• Don't worry, the sky isn't falling. AI is more like a 'co-pilot' than something trying to snatch your steering wheel. It will free us from repetitive, tedious labor, allowing us to focus on more creative, interesting, and valuable aspects.
• But don't be complacent either. The future trend is 'human-AI collaboration.' You'll need to learn how to use AI as a powerful tool to boost your efficiency. Just as everyone today needs to know how to use computers and Office software, in the future, everyone might need to know how to use various AI tools.
• New jobs will emerge. Just as cars led to drivers, mechanics, and designers; and the internet gave rise to programmers, e-commerce operators, and content creators (like YouTubers/Bilibili creators). The AI era will also spawn many new professions we can't yet imagine, such as 'AI Trainers,' 'AI Ethicists,' 'Prompt Engineers,' and so on.

So, instead of worrying, 'Will my job be replaced?', it's better to think, 'How can I leverage AI to do my job better? What skills do I possess that AI cannot replicate?' Continuous learning, maintaining curiosity, and embracing change—these are the best attitudes for facing the future.