Latest news with #MicrosoftBingCopilot
CNBC
31-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Painters, nursing assistants, and more: Microsoft's top 10 most AI-safe careers
Blue-collar jobs have a new sheen to them as desk workers become increasingly vulnerable to being replaced by artificial intelligence. Microsoft examined the link between how much certain workers rely on AI tools and the potential impact to their professions, in a new report titled "Occupational Implications of Generative AI." The tech giant's researchers analyzed data from 200,000 anonymized and privacy-scrubbed conversations in the U.S. between users and the tech giant's AI chatbot companion, Microsoft Bing Copilot, gathered over nine months between January and September 2024. The analysis, published last week, focused on users seeking assistance from Copilot to complete a task, defined as the "user goal" by researchers. Meanwhile, AI performing a task within the conversation was labelled "AI action." This determined which work activities generative AI was completing. In some cases, the AI was providing instructions on how to perform a task. "To illustrate the distinction, if the user is trying to figure out how to print a document, the user goal is to operate office equipment, while the AI action is to train others to use equipment," the report said. The researchers found that users were most actively seeking help from AI for "information gathering, writing, and communicating with others," and these actions were also the most successfully completed tasks by AI. "On the AI action side, we see that AI often acts in a service role to the human as a coach, advisor, or teacher that gathers information and explains it to the user." This has put occupations like interpreters, translators, historians, writers, and sales representatives at the highest risk of AI adoption and impact. However, blue-collar professionals, many of whom do physical work either with people or machines, were the least likely to be seeking help from AI, and were therefore classified as the occupations least impacted by AI. This includes roles like dishwashers, massage therapists, roofers, maids, and housekeeping cleaners. A recent Gallup report showed that it's mainly white-collar workers increasing AI-use with 27% frequently using AI at work, up 12% since 2024. Industries with the most prolific AI users were tech (50%), professional services (34%), and finance (32%.) Meanwhile, frequent use of AI by production and frontline workers was flat for two years, from 11% in 2023 to 9% in 2025, per Gallup. Microsoft's researchers did note that their measurements were purely focused on large language models (LLMs), and other applications of AI could affect occupations involving operating and monitoring machinery, such as truck driving. "AI has really transformed white collar work and the skills premiums are shrinking dramatically," future of work expert Ravin Jesuthasan told CNBC Make It in an interview. "People need to upskill and reskill at real scale and speed." He added: "If I'm a plumber, we're a long, long way from a machine being able to replace me as a plumber, because the set of plumbing fixtures I have in my house look completely different from yours and so the ability of a robot to sort of be able to do that [is small.] So there is a lot more stability." Jesuthasan explained that blue-collar roles have evolved in the past few decades and have become more attractive career paths for young people, and with the low risk of AI exposure, blue-collar jobs will only become more popular. "Two things: One is they [blue-collar jobs] are growing in demand, they're a lot more stable. But also they are increasingly requiring a lot more technological knowledge, so people who have gotten those skills are saying, 'It's not like I'm working on the shop floor, lifting and carrying stuff. I'm actually operating some really complex equipment here.' "The manufacturing job that in the past was grimy and dirty and grungy is now actually one that pays incredibly well because it's a much more technical role."
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Is AI about to replace your job? Here's what Microsoft found
Microsoft reveals which jobs are most at risk from AI, and which are safe Microsoft researchers have released a study identifying which occupations are most and least susceptible to being replaced by generative AI tools. The study, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, analysed how frequently AI is used in various jobs and how successfully it performs within those roles. According to the research, the team evaluated a dataset comprising 200,000 anonymised and privacy-scrubbed user interactions with Microsoft Bing Copilot. They used this data to generate an "AI applicability score" for different occupations, gauging how effectively AI is already being used and the likelihood of its future integration. Desk jobs face higher AI applicability The study found that jobs most vulnerable to automation involve tasks such as providing information and assistance, writing, teaching, and advising. Occupations in this category include translators, historians, sales representatives, writers, authors, and customer service representatives. In contrast, jobs with the lowest AI applicability scores tend to involve manual labour and physical tasks. These include heavy machinery and motorboat operators, housekeepers, roofers, massage therapists, and dishwashers. As reported by Futurism, the researchers noted that lower-paying, labour-intensive occupations are significantly less likely to be automated when compared to those involving tasks that AI chatbots and large language models are capable of performing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo AI's role in current work activities Despite the high applicability scores in certain job categories, the researchers clarified that AI is not yet performing all work activities associated with any one occupation. According to Futurism, they stated that "our data do not indicate that AI is performing all of the work activities of any one occupation." They further acknowledged that variability in how people use AI tools complicates the results. "Different people use different LLMs for different purposes," the researchers explained, adding that this could lead to inconsistencies in how certain roles—such as historians, political scientists, and authors—are represented in the dataset. Cautions on interpretation and economic implications The Microsoft team advised caution when interpreting the potential economic impacts of AI on employment. As quoted by Futurism, they stated, "This would be a mistake, as our data do not include the downstream business impacts of new technology, which are very hard to predict and often counterintuitive." They referenced the example of ATMs, which automated a key function of bank tellers but ultimately contributed to an increase in teller employment, as banks were able to open more branches. Occupations most and least likely to be replaced by AI (according to Microsoft study) Most likely to be replaced by AI Least likely to be replaced by AI Translators Heavy machinery operators Historians Motorboat operators Sales representatives Housekeepers Writers Roofers Authors Massage therapists Customer service representatives Dishwashers Executives' perspectives on AI-driven job cuts Industry leaders have also expressed their views on AI's impact on jobs. According to Futurism, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently stated that some job categories could be "just like totally, totally gone," pointing to customer support roles as one example. Elijah Clark, a CEO who advises businesses on AI, confirmed the trend, telling Futurism, "I've laid off employees myself because of AI," adding that CEOs are "extremely excited about the opportunities that AI brings." Evolving technology and future job markets The researchers concluded that the results represent only a "snapshot in time," and future developments in AI technology may alter the landscape further. As reported by Futurism, they stated, "Modernizing our understanding of workplace activities will be crucial as generative AI continues to change how work is done." TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
