Could AI be too pricey to replace you? New research finds just 23% of jobs can be done by robots

A new study in the US examined how expensive it would be to use AI to complete certain tasks in the workplaceIt found that organisations could only cut costs by using AI over a human worker in 23 per cent of tasks Employers are still valuing soft skills such as creative and analytical thinking, something that can only be done by humans 

From a popular supermarket’s AI-powered security cabinets, designed to negate alcohol theft and arguably remove the need for shop assistants, to AI chatbots being used to create marketing and advertising campaigns, making marketing specialists redundant in the process, you might think the AI bots are winning the human versus bots battle.

But new research conducted in the US by MIT CSAIL, MIT Sloan, The Productivity Institute, and IBM’s Institute for Business Value has found that for the vast majority of jobs, it doesn’t make financial sense to use AI over a human.

The study established that only 23 per cent of jobs can be done more economically by AI.

Counting the costs: Research shows that for most jobs, it’s not financially advantageous to use AI over humans, with only 23 per cent of jobs being more cost-effective when done by AI

‘This indicates a more gradual integration of AI into various sectors, contrasting with the often hypothesised rapid AI-driven job displacement,’ says Neil Thompson, Principal Investigator at MIT CSAIL and the Initiative on the Digital Economy.

‘Much has been written about the future impact of AI on the labour market, primarily using measures of exposure. However, these estimates often rely on the assumption that if a job can be automated, it will be,’ adds Antonin Bergeaud, Associate Professor of Economics at HEC Paris.

‘The conclusion is striking: a much smaller share of the labour market is at risk of automation than direct estimations based on exposure would suggest.’

Future-proofing your skills

While the coast is clear for now, it would be foolish to assume that AI won’t make its presence known in your work, in one shape or form.

This is why honing your skillset so that you’re not only more AI savvy, but have the soft skills to assimilate AI, is crucial if you want to futureproof your career prospects now and in the future.

In separate data compiled by the World Economic Forum for its Future of Jobs Report 2023, 73 per cent of organisations consider creative thinking as a must-have soft skill when considering prospective employees.

The reason for this is manifold, but workers that have the creative capabilities to interpret the large amounts of data AI can produce are one of the main ones.

Future-proofing skills: In data from the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023, 73 per cent of organisations see creative thinking as essential in prospective employees

An ability to creatively brainstorm multiple solutions or ways of working and analyse the outcomes before making a decision is also an inherently human skill that the bots can’t do—for now.

However, if you are worried about your job security or fear your current skillset is at risk of becoming obsolete, it could be time to look for a new job in a company that fosters innovation, learning and upskilling.

And if that is the case, the Mail Jobs Board is the ideal place to focus your search. It features thousands of jobs in companies that are actively hiring, including the three below.

Futureproof your career today via the Mail Jobs Board