Which jobs are at risk of being replaced by artificial intelligence first?

Since AI has made great strides and become the center of attention, concerns about AI replacing human labor have been growing. Many people are concerned that the rapid development of AI technology will lead to mass unemployment as machines can automate most jobs, from manufacturing to services.

While some are optimistic that AI will create new jobs and increase productivity, most people are worried about the future of their jobs. Recent studies and reports have shown that many occupations are at high risk of automation, with far-reaching impacts on the global labor market.

According to a recent study conducted by experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) and other leading organizations, completely replacing humans with AI in factories and workshops may not be a viable solution in the near future.

Research focusing on the field of computer vision, one of the prominent applications of AI, has shown that the cost of developing and deploying AI systems smart enough to perform complex human tasks is very high.

In addition, training and maintaining these systems also requires a lot of time and resources. According to researcher Neil Thompson, fully automating many tasks could take years or even decades to become a reality.

A report published on CNN last June revealed a remarkable information, more than 61% of large corporations in the US are actively considering applying AI to replace humans in performing many jobs. This number shows the increasing popularity of AI in the business environment and at the same time raises questions about the future of the labor market.

The future of the labor market is facing unprecedented changes due to the rapid development of AI. While AI brings many benefits and promises to revolutionize many industries, it also poses new challenges.

While human creativity and critical thinking remain irreplaceable advantages, some repetitive, precision-intensive jobs could be automated. So, which industries are at risk of being replaced by AI first?

1. Data entry and administrative work

AI’s ability to process data with superior speed and accuracy is posing a major challenge to traditional data entry and administration tasks. Repetitive, rule-based tasks such as data entry from paper documents, data validation, and information organization are increasingly being automated by software technologies that enable the automation of business processes using software robots or artificial intelligence agents.

While automation brings many benefits such as increased productivity, reduced costs and reduced errors, it also means that the need for human resources for data entry and administrative work will be significantly reduced.

2. Customer service staff

The customer service industry is undergoing a real revolution as AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants become smarter and more sophisticated. These tools are capable of handling a large number of customer requests quickly and accurately, including bookings, placing orders, answering frequently asked questions, and even solving some simple problems.

The 24/7 availability of chatbots and virtual assistants helps businesses provide non-stop customer service, meeting customers' growing demands for convenience and speed.

Compared to traditional customer service agents, chatbots and virtual assistants are often more efficient at handling repetitive tasks and providing accurate information. This helps reduce customer wait times and improve customer experience. However, for complex issues that require a deep understanding of a specific product, service, or situation, human empathy and flexible problem-solving abilities are still indispensable.

However, the rapid development of AI technologies is posing new challenges to traditional customer service roles. Simple, repetitive tasks such as answering FAQs, entering data, or handling simple requests can gradually be automated, leading to a reduction in the need to recruit staff for these positions.

3. Graphic designer

The rapid growth of AI-powered image generation tools like Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and DALL-E is revolutionizing the graphic design industry. With the ability to generate high-quality, diverse-style images from just a few keywords, AI is posing a major challenge to traditional designers.

Anyone, even those without an art background, can create unique and impressive works with just a little creativity and the ability to write prompts. This makes businesses tend to choose AI tools to create images for their projects, instead of hiring professional graphic designers.

4. Programmer

The emergence of large language models like ChatGPT and Gemini, which are capable of generating code, is posing unprecedented challenges to programmers, especially those new to the profession. These AI tools can not only generate simple code, but can also perform more complex tasks such as writing functions, creating user interfaces, and even building basic web applications.

This means that entry-level programming jobs, which require a lot of repetitive work and follow certain rules, will be easily automated. In the near future, we may see a major shift in the demand for programmers, as businesses increasingly look to leverage the power of AI to reduce costs and increase productivity.

Last February, the statement of Mr. Jensen Huang, CEO of the world's leading multinational technology corporation Nvidia (USA), shocked the technology community when he affirmed that AI has turned everyone into a programmer. This statement quickly became the focus of attention of the media and the technology community, opening up heated debates about the future of programming and the role of AI in democratizing technology.

5. Travel agents and planners

The days when we had to rely on travel agents to plan our trips are slowly becoming a thing of the past. With the advancement of AI, planning a trip has become simpler and more convenient than ever.

AI tools, combined with virtual tours and a wealth of information online, have equipped travelers with all the tools they need to plan their own trips. From finding the right destination, booking flights and hotels, to creating detailed itineraries, all can be done with just a few clicks.

In June, Google made waves in the travel industry when it published a blog post about the possibilities that AI brings to trip planning. Accordingly, Google has developed AI tools that can support users from finding suitable destinations, comparing prices, booking rooms, to detailed schedules.

With smart features and high personalization capabilities, these tools promise to completely change the way we plan a trip. In the near future, we can imagine a scenario where AI tools will become popular and gradually replace the role of traditional travel advisors, bringing travelers a completely new travel planning experience.

In short, the rise of AI paints a picture of a changing labor market. The impact of AI will not be uniform across all sectors, but will instead create different opportunities and challenges for each industry. While some jobs are at risk of automation, many others will be upgraded by AI.

This means that people will have more time and energy to focus on tasks that require creativity, critical thinking and higher-level communication skills. The future of the labor market is still uncertain, but one thing is certain: the ability to adapt and continuously learn will be the key to each individual's success.