If you’ve ever joked about a robot taking your job, it might be time to stop laughing.
New research from Microsoft has revealed a detailed list of the 40 jobs most likely to be taken over by artificial intelligence, and—unsurprisingly—it doesn’t look great for people in communication-heavy roles.
On the flip side, some manual and highly specialized professions are looking pretty safe for now.
Communication Jobs Are on the Chopping Block
Top of the at-risk list? Interpreters and translators.
Yep, even if you’ve spent years perfecting your French or Mandarin, AI is catching up fast.
And it’s not just languages—it’s bad news for historians, writers, political scientists, journalists, and just about anyone who earns a living through words.
But AI’s appetite isn’t limited to writing.
The study also flagged roles like customer service reps, salespeople, and airline passenger attendants—any job where providing information or answering questions is part of the daily grind.
In total, the 40 jobs most at risk employ more than 8.4 million people in the United States alone.
That’s a significant chunk of the workforce staring down the barrel of automation.
Why These Jobs Are So Vulnerable
Microsoft’s research team, led by Dr. Kiran Tomlinson, studied over 200,000 anonymous interactions with Bing’s AI chatbot, analyzing what kinds of tasks users were asking for help with.
They found that AI is most often used for providing information, writing, teaching, and giving advice—which aligns directly with what many of these vulnerable jobs require.
Using this, Dr. Tomlinson developed what she calls the “AI applicability score,” measuring how useful AI is in supporting each profession—not necessarily replacing it, but highlighting how much of it could be automated.
The catch? The more useful AI is in a job, the more companies might either hire fewer people to do that job, or restructure roles entirely, leading to fewer openings.
AI Might Not Take Over—But It Will Reshape Workforces
Even Bill Gates has echoed similar concerns.
Back in March, during a guest appearance on The Tonight Show, the former Microsoft CEO warned that humans soon may not be needed “for most things.”
It’s a dramatic statement, but one that aligns with the research: AI is likely to deeply reshape how work is done, even if it doesn’t fully replace human jobs.
A company might still employ software developers, for example—but if AI makes each developer 50% more productive, they might only need half as many.
Wait—Radio DJs and Models Are at Risk Too?
Some of the jobs flagged in the study might come as a surprise.
Radio DJs and fashion models made the list, even though they’re professions many assume require a human touch.
But that assumption is already being tested.
Spanish fashion brand Mango faced backlash last year for using AI-generated models in a campaign aimed at teenagers.
Meanwhile, podcaster Jakob Wredstrøm made headlines by creating an AI version of himself to host a podcast—making it the first known AI-hosted show.
The Jobs AI Probably Won’t Replace Anytime Soon
If your job involves precision, physical labor, or human emotion, you’re probably safe—for now.
Jobs like ship engineers, pile driver operators, cement masons, dredge operators, and floor sanders all ranked low in AI applicability.
Why? These roles require technical skills, often in unstructured environments, and involve precise hand-eye coordination that AI still can’t replicate.
Healthcare roles also scored low on AI replacement risk.
From oral surgeons and surgical assistants to nursing aides, these jobs require a combination of human intuition, care, and skill that AI can’t quite master.
Other safe bets? Dishwashers, embalmers, roofers, fire supervisors, and maids—jobs where unpredictability, manual effort, and personal interaction make automation less effective.
In total, the 40 least automatable jobs still account for over 5.5 million workers in the US.
AI Can Help—But It Can’t Replace Everything
According to Dr. Tomlinson, the key takeaway isn’t that AI will replace people, but that it will transform how we work—particularly in fields that rely on research, writing, and communication.
“We’re seeing that AI can assist with many tasks,” she said, “but there’s no evidence that it can fully do everything in any one profession.”
That distinction matters. AI might help a writer brainstorm faster or assist a teacher with grading, but it won’t completely eliminate those jobs—at least, not yet.
A Broader Warning from China’s AI Pioneer
Echoing Microsoft’s findings, Kai-Fu Lee, a leading voice in AI and author of AI Superpowers, has made his own stark prediction: half of today’s jobs could be gone within 15 years.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, Lee compared the looming impact of AI to what farmers experienced during the Industrial Revolution.
It’s a seismic shift that could leave many behind if they’re not prepared.
He stressed the urgent need for public awareness and retraining, especially since most people still don’t fully grasp what’s coming.
The Human Edge AI Still Can’t Touch
Still, Lee insists it’s not all doom and gloom. “AI is powerful,” he said, “but it can’t do everything humans can.” He believes machines will always fall short in areas like:
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Creativity and conceptual thinking
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Complex strategy and problem-solving
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Physical tasks requiring finesse and dexterity
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Emotional intelligence and empathy
In short, AI may be smart—but it isn’t human. And that, for now, is our biggest advantage.