From writing code to screening job applicants, artificial intelligence is already reshaping how work gets done. IBM has replaced hundreds of HR roles with AI tools. At Google and Microsoft, over a quarter of the code is written by AI. Writers now use AI for brainstorming, editing, and more.
Understandably, many people are anxious: Could AI take their jobs? In fact, only 23% of the public believes AI will have a positive impact on employment — a stark contrast to what many AI experts believe.
So, how is AI actually impacting the workforce?
Automation vs. Augmentation
Economists often divide AI’s influence into two categories:
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Automation: AI handles tasks without human help, often reducing the need for workers.
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Augmentation: AI assists humans, enhancing productivity and creating new roles.
A study of U.S. jobs between 2015 and 2022 found that automation is linked to job losses and lower wages. But augmentation often leads to higher pay and new types of work — especially for experienced professionals.
What the Data Shows
Researchers at Anthropic, the company behind AI assistant Claude, analyzed one million user conversations from late 2024. They mapped AI-affected tasks to over 700 occupations, classifying whether Claude’s involvement was more about automation or augmentation.
Key finding: By the end of 2024, AI was already automating or augmenting around 25% of tasks across all jobs.
An interactive tool allows people to enter their job titles and see AI’s current impact — whether it's replacing tasks or enhancing them.
Who’s Affected and How?
The data shows a wide range of outcomes:
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High automation risk: Translators, coders, and data entry jobs.
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High augmentation potential: Educators, psychologists, librarians — where human judgment, context, and empathy matter.
For example:
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Computer & math jobs: 23% of tasks can be automated.
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Education roles: 40% of tasks can be augmented with AI help.
Most importantly, augmentation is still more common than automation — at least for now.
A Few Caveats
This analysis only captures text-based AI use, so it underrepresents roles relying on visuals, like fashion or interior designers. It also reflects a snapshot in time — a week’s worth of Claude usage at the end of 2024. Future AI advances or regulations could shift the landscape dramatically.
Still, it offers a rare, data-backed view into how advanced AI tools are already changing how we work.
Tech Industry: A Case Study in Disruption
Tech workers — long shielded from recessions — are now among the most exposed. Over half of tasks in tech jobs can be either automated or augmented. AI can now complete nearly 80% of basic coding tasks without human input.
That doesn’t mean all hope is lost. New AI-focused roles, such as AI ethics officers and security developers, could emerge. But right now, the balance tips toward job loss rather than creation.
How to Stay Ahead
1. Learn the tools.
Start using AI in your personal life — for research, planning, or advice. Explore different tools, understand their limitations, and keep up with both the hype and the concerns.
2. Bring AI into your work.
Think of AI as a co-worker. Use it to speed up routine tasks, clarify your logic, or generate new ideas. If you're not using it, someone else is — and getting more done.
Adapt or Fall Behind
AI isn’t a storm you can wait out — it’s more like a rising tide. But it won’t hit everyone the same way. The best defense? Information, adaptation, and creative thinking.
Those who embrace AI as a tool — rather than fear it as a threat — will be better positioned to survive and thrive. In the AI era, human skills like judgment, ethics, and creativity are more valuable than ever.