AI taking human jobs debate continues, what jobs it could replace first

Ever since interest around artificial intelligence (AI) has gained ground, people have been talking about how the emerging technology can potentially replace jobs across the globe. While a section of people believe that AI can help humans be productive at their jobs by eliminating the time spent on menial tasks, others perceive it as a threat instead. Time and again, there have been various studies and reports that talk about the impact of AI on the job market.

Will AI replace humans at their jobs?

For instance, according to a study conducted in January this year, replacing human workers with AI could be too costly for many companies in the near future. The study was conducted by MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), MIT Sloan, The Productivity Institute, and IBM's Institute for Business Value,

Neil Thompson, a lead researcher at MIT CSAIL and the Initiative on the Digital Economy, earlier told CNBC Make It, "Our research into AI-powered automation, particularly in computer vision, suggests that it may not be financially viable to automate many tasks for quite some time, possibly not for several years or even decades."

On the other hand, a CNN report in June this year talked about how over 61 percent of large US companies are mulling over the idea of using AI to take care of tasks that were earlier being done by humans.

So, if AI will be replacing humans at their jobs is something that only time will tell. However, if that does happen, here are some jobs that are at risk of being replaced by the new technology.

1. Data Entry and administrative jobs

AI's ability to process and organize data with speed and accuracy makes data entry and administrative roles slightly vulnerable. Repetitive, rule-based tasks like document scanning and information sorting are prime candidates for automation. Moreover, tools like Uipath, Power Automate and Blue Prism can already help with data entry, reducing the need for human intervention.

2. Customer service agents

The customer service industry is undergoing significant changes as AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants become more sophisticated. These technologies can handle routine customer inquiries, bookings, and support issues 24/7, often more efficiently than human agents. While complex problem-solving and empathy still require a human touch, basic customer service roles are increasingly at risk.

For instance, platforms like Swiggy, Zomato and even Myntra have AI chatbots taking care of customers' complaints first. A customer service representative is needed only when an issue can't be resolved by the AI chatbot.

3. Graphic designers

The rise of AI-generated art has put graphic designers in direct competition with technology. Tools like Midjourney, Stable Diffusion and DALL-E make it easy to create professional images without artistic expertise. All you need, quite honestly, is a good imagination and the ability to write text prompts. And these tools become more widespread, businesses may rely less on traditional graphic design services.

4. Programmers

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are already capable of writing code, raising concerns about the future of entry-level programming jobs. While programming requires precision and structure, AI is rapidly improving its ability to perform these tasks, potentially reducing the need for human programmers in certain areas.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, in February this year, had made headlines for saying that AI has turned everybody into a programmer.

Huang was speaking at an event and the video had surfaced online. He believes that people needed to learn coding about a decade back but now, anybody can be a programmer with AI.

"You now have a computer that will do what you tell it to do. It is vital that we upskill everyone and the upskilling process will be delightful and surprising," he had said.

5. Travel agents and planners

The days of relying on travel agents to plan trips may be numbered as AI takes over trip planning. Combined with virtual tours and online resources, travelers can now gather all the information they need without consulting a travel advisor.

In June this year, Google had published a blog post that talked about how AI tools could help users plan their trips. In future, tools like these could be commonplace and that could impact travel advisors' jobs.

As AI continues to evolve, its impact on the job market will likely vary across different sectors. While some roles may be at risk, others could be enhanced by AI, allowing humans to focus on more creative and complex tasks. The future of work in the age of AI remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: adaptation will be key.