AI will replace millions of workers: which professions are at risk.

According to The Sun: Three professions have been identified as most at risk of being replaced by artificial intelligence.

A study by Agentic AI Gravitee showed that British workers will have to compete with 100,000 virtual AI employees by the end of 2026.

The most at-risk professions were found to be in the fields of software engineering, human resources management, and customer service.

Approximately half of the surveyed managers stated that more than half of the work in these areas could be done by AI.

This means companies could reduce the number of vacant positions to lower costs.

Other professions at risk include sales, marketing managers, and communications specialists.

The study covered 250 managers from large British companies, all of whom plan to implement AI.

The majority plans to 'hire' 16-20 AI agents to perform tasks previously executed by humans.

65% of companies also plan to cut jobs, indicating that many current tasks could be performed by cheaper AI bots.

However, nearly a quarter of companies intend to increase the number of employees to support the implementation of AI.

“Agentic AI will provide a massive productivity boost for companies of all sizes as AI agents handle routine and repetitive tasks, freeing workers for more interesting challenges,” said Rory Blandell, CEO of Gravitee.

“However, it is clear that, at least in the short term, there is a risk of mass layoffs as companies learn to balance investment with return, which may be short-sighted. Not least because AI without proper management can cause chaos and disruptions.”

According to a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), AI may affect three out of five workers and could even replace their professions.

Companies and governments have already begun to cut workers to make room for new technologies.

Well-known accounting firms like PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, and EY have reduced the number of junior positions by 29%, while the government plans to cut at least 10,000 positions in the public sector.

Companies such as Amazon, Telstra, Salesforce, and Fiverr have also announced job cuts over the past 12 months, shifting these duties to AI agents.

In November 2022, when the popular AI tool ChatGPT emerged, there were 315,550 entry-level job openings in the UK, which had dropped to 214,934 at the beginning of this month, according to data from the Adzuna platform.

List of professions at risk

Previously, Microsoft conducted a similar study that identified 40 professions most susceptible to AI replacement.

Researchers analyzed 200,000 conversations between people in the US and Microsoft’s AI chatbot called Copilot.

They found that AI will most impact professions in the field of communications.

Translators and interpreters, historians, flight attendants and stewards, sales representatives, and customer service representatives topped the list of at-risk professions.

• Translators and interpreters
• Historians
• Customer service staff
• Sales representatives
• Writers and authors
• Customer support representatives
• CNC programmers
• Telephone switchboard operators
• Ticket sales agents and travel clerks
• News anchors and radio DJs

And here are the professions most protected from the risks of AI:

• Drainage plant operators
• Bridge and lock keepers
• Water treatment plant operators
• Boiler and mold operators
• Railway equipment operators
• Drilling machine operators
• Construction cleaning operators
• Care staff for patients
• Motorboat operators
• Saw mill operators

Thus, the development of artificial intelligence will significantly impact the labor market, changing not only the nature of professions but also skill requirements in the future. Observing these trends, companies and employees must adapt to the new realities brought by technological progress.