Microsoft says AI will take away these 40 jobs: Check if your role is safe

As artificial intelligence accelerates its integration into the workplace, Microsoft Research has identified the 40 jobs most susceptible to disruption from AI, and another 40 that are least likely to be impacted. The report offers a sobering look at how rapidly advancing AI technologies could reshape the global labour market.

The study, conducted by Microsoft’s research division, focuses on job roles in the United States, but experts believe the findings are broadly applicable to other developed and developing nations. At the core of the analysis is a measure called “AI applicability”, the degree to which AI can be used to perform or enhance a particular job. The higher the applicability score, the more likely AI is to replace or transform that role.

Microsoft reached out to Business Today with a statement. Kiran Tomlinson, Senior Researcher at Microsoft, provided some context to the findings:

“Our study explores which job categories can productively use AI chatbots. It introduces an AI applicability score that measures the overlap between AI capabilities and job tasks, highlighting where AI might change how work is done, not take away or replace jobs. Our research shows that AI supports many tasks, particularly those involving research, writing, and communication, but does not indicate it can fully perform any single occupation. As AI adoption accelerates, it's important that we continue to study and better understand its societal and economic impact."

40 Jobs Most Likely to Be Disrupted by AI

These roles are largely based on communication, analysis, content creation, or clerical work, all areas where AI models like ChatGPT or image generators are already proving capable:

1. Interpreters and Translators
2. Historians
3. Passenger Attendants
4. Sales Representatives of Services
5. Writers and Authors
6. Customer Service Representatives
7. CNC Tool Programmers
8. Telephone Operators
9. Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
10. Broadcast Announcers and Radio DJs
11. Brokerage Clerks
12. Farm and Home Management Educators
13. Telemarketers
14. Concierges
15. Political Scientists
16. News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
17. Mathematicians
18. Technical Writers
19. Proofreaders and Copy Markers
20. Hosts and Hostesses
21. Editors
22. Business Teachers (Postsecondary)
23. Public Relations Specialists
24. Demonstrators and Product Promoters
25. Advertising Sales Agents
26. New Accounts Clerks
27. Statistical Assistants
28. Counter and Rental Clerks
29. Data Scientists
30. Personal Financial Advisors
31. Archivists
32. Economics Teachers (Postsecondary)
33. Web Developers
34. Management Analysts
35. Geographers
36. Models
37. Market Research Analysts
38. Public Safety Telecommunicators
39. Switchboard Operators
40. Library Science Teachers (Postsecondary)

The study notes that many of these positions rely on skills that large language models can mimic or automate, such as writing, translating, summarising data, or synthesising information. Even visual fields like modelling are now at risk due to the rise of AI-generated imagery.

40 Jobs Least Likely to Be Disrupted by AI

In contrast, the least affected roles tend to involve physical labour, in-person service, manual dexterity, or complex real-world environments where AI still lacks capabilities:

1. Dredge Operators
2. Bridge and Lock Tenders
3. Water Treatment Plant and System Operators
4. Foundry Mold and Coremakers
5. Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
6. Pile Driver Operators
7. Floor Sanders and Finishers
8. Orderlies
9. Motorboat Operators
10. Logging Equipment Operators
11. Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
12. Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
13. Roustabouts (Oil and Gas)
14. Roofers
15. Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
16. Helpers–Roofers
17. Tire Builders
18. Surgical Assistants
19. Massage Therapists
20. Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
21. Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
22. Supervisors of Firefighters
23. Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
24. Dishwashers
25. Machine Feeders and Offbearers
26. Packaging and Filling Machine Operators
27. Medical Equipment Preparers
28. Highway Maintenance Workers
29. Helpers–Production Workers
30. Prosthodontists
31. Tire Repairers and Changers
32. Ship Engineers
33. Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers
34. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
35. Plant and System Operators (All Other)
36. Embalmers
37. Helpers–Painters, Plasterers
38. Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
39. Nursing Assistants
40. Phlebotomists

These roles remain relatively safe for now as they depend on real-world interaction, physical strength, mobility, or high-touch care, which current AI systems are not equipped to handle effectively.

AI's Role in Reshaping Work

While Microsoft emphasises that AI can enhance productivity, critics argue that in many cases, companies are simply using AI to reduce costs by downsizing teams. Former CEO Bill Gates has also warned that AI poses a significant risk to employment if not managed responsibly.

As the pace of AI adoption increases, so too does the urgency for governments and businesses to establish frameworks for reskilling workers and managing transitions. Without such guardrails, the economic shock of widespread AI disruption could be far-reaching.