“Guaranteed Job For Life”: 30 Jobs People Are 99.9% Sure AI Won’t Steal
Interview With Expert
Whether you’re a techno-optimist, realist, or pessimist, you can’t deny that the rise of artificial intelligence is shaking things up. The job industry is going through some major shifts. And, likely, this will only accelerate in the future. The International Monetary Fund warns that AI is going to affect nearly 40% of all jobs worldwide.
Naturally, some folks are slightly worried about the future of their careers. Meanwhile, others are barely breaking a sweat. The r/AskReddit community recently chatted about the jobs that they think are nearly entirely safe from AI making them obsolete. Scroll down to hear their thoughts. (You might also want to keep this in mind for a plan B if your white-collar or creative job goes sideways.)
Bored Panda wanted to learn more about which professions are safer and more vulnerable, as well as how employees can adapt to the spread of AI. So, we reached out to marketing psychology speaker Matt Johnson, Ph.D., and personal finance expert Sam Dogen from ‘Financial Samurai’ for comment.
This post may include affiliate links.
Nursing.
SpaceMurse:
I would do ungodly, unforgivable things for an AI rig that will do my patients’ bowel programs.
I cannot say enough good things about nurses. I am in awe of how calmly they can do their work under pressure and when dealing with all types of people.
According to marketing psychology speaker Johnson, who is the host of the branding and human nature blogs, even though AI is “poised to transform a significant portion of the workforce, not everyone needs to panic.”
“It's clear that certain jobs are less susceptible to immediate disruption. Roles requiring high levels of creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, such as artists, therapists, and strategic decision-makers, are less likely to be automated. Jobs that involve complex problem-solving in unpredictable environments, like scientists or emergency responders, also remain relatively safe,” he explained to Bored Panda via email.
Johnson noted that other positions that are less likely to be automated include nurses, social workers, and educators, who require a high degree of human interaction and empathy in their day-to-day jobs.
Meanwhile, skilled tradespeople and technicians, whose roles demand high levels of manual dexterity and adaptability, are also safer from becoming obsolete. “While AI will undoubtedly impact the job market, these roles are expected to remain in demand due to their uniquely human qualities and the complexity of the tasks involved,” Johnson said.
Trade jobs (plumbing, electricians, painters, etc).
dogdashdash:
Ye. I'm a plumber in Ontario. At this point I can literally quit my job right now via text and have a new one lined up for Monday. No AI or modular homes are taking any work from me.
Teacher, especially for younger kids. Parents want their kids learning from a human because there’s important social aspects they must learn.
No-Survey7308:
Teacher! Sorry but if covid has taught us anything it’s the need for a real person standing in front of these kids. As a teacher for the last 22 years i can tell you that these kids are damaged from remote learning. Turns out much of my job is getting kids to be present in the moment. Not distracted by the window or the kid next to them,not the phones but the material in front of them. Phones (and the ai in it) are making it harder but they need human beings to guide them and train them to gain intellectual endurance. AI will never replace us.
If there's one aspect I can attest with online schooling, choir is next to impossible to properly teach and conduct. My daughter had to do this for her choir class. She couldn't hear where the other students were on their notes and couldn't hear how her voice was carrying out. Absolute gong show. Then when classes were back in school, choir was only allowed outside, in the winter, cold air. Anyone with experience singing you know this isn't a good singing environment. She was forced to quit over that. She misses being in choir.
Personal finance expert Dogen, the creator of the ‘Financial Samurai' blog and the author of the bestseller ‘How To Engineer Your Layoff,’ has a similar point of view.
“Artificial intelligence serves as a powerful tool, enhancing productivity while simultaneously posing a threat to certain jobs in the future. The key for all workers lies in understanding how to effectively utilize AI to boost job performance, akin to learning to use a scientific calculator for solving math equations when it was first introduced. Failure to grasp AI's potential leaves individuals at a disadvantage,” Dogen told Bored Panda.
“Jobs least susceptible to disruption by AI are those involving substantial manual labor. Professions like plumbing, electrical work, roofing, landscaping, and nursing necessitate hands-on tasks that AI can assist in improving but struggles to replace entirely,” he said.
Engineers. Even when we have AI robot workers, someone will still need to fix the robots.
Wiping old peoples' butts in nursing homes. Guaranteed job for life.
It's so.much more than wiping buts....its the listening, the hand holding, the empathy, the humour ...the medical care , support with nutrition AI can never replace human touch and empathy
“Conversely, jobs most vulnerable to AI disruption are those that can be easily automated without extensive manual labor. Roles such as data entry, data analysis, telemarketing, bookkeeping, cashiering, writing, and even aspects of investing fall into this category, as they involve tasks that AI can readily undertake. It is crucial for individuals to adapt and enhance their skills to remain competitive in a job market influenced by AI," Dogen said.
According to marketing psychology speaker Johnson, there are things that all employees can do to become less replaceable by AI. “Employees can focus on developing skills that complement AI rather than compete with it. Put simply—your job probably won't be replaced by AI itself; your job will be replaced by someone using AI,” he stressed.
“In order to cultivate a better partnership with AI, employees will want to think about honing their skills in areas like data analysis, programming, and machine learning, which can enhance their ability to work alongside AI systems. Additionally, cultivating soft skills, such as creativity, emotional intelligence, and complex problem-solving, can make individuals more valuable in roles that require human interaction and nuanced decision-making,” Johnson shared.
I'm an aircraft mechanic, I don't see AI crawling its nonexistent a*s into the belly of an airplane anytime soon.
Um, not denying it, but I have written smart software to predict when you need to crawl into the belly of an aircraft for maintenance. Based on the altitude, ground temperature and humidity of aircraft flights.
First responders.
I saw a fire break out once, near my office. It was an old factory where some junkies sometimes gather, so it naturally went up one day. There is a big heavy gate at the entrance of the yard with heavy steel bars and barbed wire. People from aroun the yard tried to open it before the firefighters came, so they had an easier job, but no one could open it, and there is a metalworking factory near it. Angle grinders, saws, nothing could cut it. The junkies used a small hole to get in.
Haxomen:
The firefighters came, took out some contraption and took the fire out through one of the windows of the factory. Using the Bernoulli principle. They never entered the yard. The fire raged 20 minutes and was done in 5 minutes after they came. I can't see a situation where AI is so responsive to really complex situations. Maybe some future AGI, but then we will achieve post scarcity.
I’m an occupational therapist in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital helping people regain independence with their daily activities. Hard to see AI taking my place in any time in the near or even mid future.
I agree with Bear Hall concerning the capabilities of AI to notice certain problems that humans may have problems with. But IMHO AI isn't able to see a person holistically. A human isn't only a body but also a mind and emotions which all affects one's health. And to put all this together to form a meaningful overall picture will be difficult for an AI I guess (and hope).
In the meantime, Johnson shared some thoughts on how employees can address their fear of becoming obsolete. He said that it’s vital to stay informed about emerging technologies and industry trends. On top of that, employees ought to actively seek opportunities for continuous learning and upskilling.
“Building a strong professional network and staying adaptable to change can also help individuals navigate the evolving job market with confidence. By embracing lifelong learning and focusing on skills that complement AI, employees can position themselves for long-term career success in this age of generative AI,” he told us.
Personal finance expert Dogen, from Financial Samurai, shared with Bored Panda that the most effective strategy to safeguard your job from AI is to cultivate a personal brand. “For white-collar professionals, this involves building a brand centered on qualities such as dependability, hard work, kindness, collaboration, and intelligence. A robust ‘work brand’ encompassing these attributes ensures ongoing employability,” he said.
Creatives also need to prioritize brand-building so that they become distinct and stand out from a crowd of competitors.
I'm biased but being a therapist. It'd be easy to make an AI who does it poorly and unethically. But to make even an alright therapist it would be insanely hard...
Politics.
Because politicians know they are vastly overpaid, and won't want to lose that.
AI is already being forced to lie, omit, and misdirect; foundational training for politics.
Community work/ social work. The more human you are in this field, the better. No one would tolerate or even bother engaging with an AI.
Mental health social worker here.. constantly in demand, rewarding job that computers cant do.
“A memorable brand should evoke a specific image or feeling, providing those who cultivate strong brands with enhanced opportunities and the ability to command premium prices. Consider the pricing contrast between Louis Vuitton, charging $2,000 for a handbag, and Old Navy, which might only command $80 for a similar production cost,” Dogen said.
“Creating a personal website is a pivotal aspect of brand-building, allowing individuals to control their image. While maintaining social media profiles on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook is essential, your personal website offers the ideal space to authentically share your story and showcase who you are,” the expert suggested investing some time and energy into this.
“Finally, the best way to protect yourself from artificial intelligence is to actually invest in artificial intelligence companies. Everyone can invest in publicly traded companies with AI exposure, such as Microsoft, NVIDIA, Google, and more,” he shared his thoughts.
“In addition, everyone can now invest in private AI companies through open-ended venture capital funds investing in AI. Of course, there are no guarantees of these AI investments making a positive return, given they are all risk assets. However, if AI does indeed revolutionize the world, investing in AI companies today could pay off in the future.”
I install elevators for a living. We are so, so far away from building any machine that has all the physical abilities to get it done, and just as far from making AI that has the wits it takes to figure out how to even do it.
Construction on sites in general, it involves a lot of "figuring it out" and "working with what you have".
Professional athlete.
Bender: Clem Johnson? That skin bag wouldn't have lasted one pitch in the old Robot Leagues! Now Wireless Joe Jackson, there was a blern hitting machine! (03:15)Leela: Exactly! He was a machine designed to hit blerns! I mean come on! Wireless Joe was nothing but a programmable bat on wheels.
A report from Goldman Sachs from back in March 2023 projected that content-generating AI could do a quarter of all the work currently done by people. In the European Union and the United States alone, around 300 jobs could be lost to automation.
“If generative AI delivers on its promised capabilities, the labor market could face significant disruption. Using data on occupational tasks in both the US and Europe, we find that roughly two-thirds of current jobs are exposed to some degree of AI automation, and that generative AI could substitute up to one-fourth of current work,” the report states.
According to Business Insider, some of the jobs that are the most vulnerable to AI include tech jobs (from coders to software engineers) and media jobs (from content creation and journalism to advertising).
Honestly? IT
There’s always going to be something going wrong with computers that are so dumb and unique that AI won’t have any idea how to fix it.
Maintenance electrician here. My job is.
There is a new task everyday and nothing of it follows any sort of standard procedure at least for an AI.
It would first need to have a fully functioning body that can work without electricity in tight areas before it could even begin to replace me. And at that point we are either having a big war or universal basic income.
A fine-dining chef/cook. Sure, you could make a robot that throws ingredients together in a pan, and perhaps even beautifully plate it, but they lack the ability to taste. A cook needs to taste their food to make sure it tastes the way it's supposed to. Also, we use our ability to smell to reveal if certain foods have gone bad/rancid/rotten. If a human open a tub of chicken, and it smells sour and rotten, you throw it out. AI/robots can't smell, so might serve rotten food.
Incorrect. Rot/rancidity is always accompanied by very easily detected chemical indicators. Chemicals like ammonia and acetic acid are very easily detected. Also when many foods go bad, milk for instance, a simple pH test will indicate when the product is turning. The dairy industry is a good example where this technology has been utilized for years.
Some media companies are already working to integrate AI tools like ChatGPT into their arsenals. For example, tech news site CNET is already using AI to write some articles. However, they’re far from perfect and have to be corrected. Meanwhile, BuzzFeed is using AI to generate new quizzes and travel guides.
Other jobs vulnerable to AI include legal professionals, market researchers, teachers, financial traders, accountants, customer service agents, and graphic designers.
If you feel that you're affected, first of all—don’t panic. Breathe! It’s natural to feel a tad worried about your future when the global job industry is being overhauled so quickly due to tech progress. While none of us can stop the rise and spread of AI, what we can do is change how we react to it. No matter our jobs, we can embrace these changes and adapt to them. Or, if you’re in an influential position to do so, you can do your part to help AI tools be used more ethically and less disruptively.
From our perspective, it’s quite likely that AI tools are going to become integral in many white-collar positions. However, they (probably) won’t entirely replace human employees. AI is nothing if left unguided. You need talented and insightful workers with good managerial and editing skills to get the most out of them.
I think most jobs are safe, which is an unpopular opinion. AI generated content is mediocre at best, and the PR nightmare that follows getting called out on it is a dumpster fire. Maybe in 10-20 years this concept of job security can be revisited. But right now, AI just is quite sub-par at delivery in a non-ideal environment.
This is so missing the point. It's never "can AI do as good a job as a highly skilled human", it's "can AI do a job that's just barely good enough that it can replace people in support positions and early career roles". For example, AI can already easily do most of the illustration work that is the bread-and-butter of young graphic artists. It can do the routine translation jobs that provide most translators with a steady income. It can produce the churnalism that is how young journalists get established in newsrooms. And so on. All such tasks are right where efficiency counts over perfection and the perfect is the enemy of the good, or where margins are thin and compromises in quality are always accepted if it's cheaper. It's the pathway to enshittification.
CEO / Executives. They're the ones replacing everyone else with AI while they reap the benefits and relax.
We don't need to replace them. They don't actually do anything anyway. You could replace Elon Musk with a blow up doll and Twitter's stock would skyrocket.
Regulated professions. If you need a license to do the job, like a lawyer, doctor, architect, or CPA, it cannot legally be automated. And, these groups tend to be pretty influential in politics so they can keep those barriers to entry up.
Those professions will soon start *using* AI though. Especially for the simpler tasks that are usually done by those in training or early-career professionals - who will then fail to acquire the experience and insight such work provides. That will filter through creating a new generation of AI-reliant professionals without enough experience and expertise to make them significantly more capable that the increasingly competent but much cheaper AIs, resulting in an enshittification of the professions.
At the end of the day, despite all of our guesses, AI is going to affect the global job industry in ways that we can’t even imagine. The best that we can do is to stay up to date with industry changes, get to grips with at least some relevant AI tools, and… consider learning a new skill or trade on the side.
Or, to put it simply: if you’re really, really good at what you do, you’re less likely to be laid off. So the best defense against becoming obsolete is to be great at your job. However, it’s not just our hard skills that are important. It’s our relationships and how we communicate that are essential, too. They can mean a huge deal if someone ever has to pick between saving/firing one of two equally skilled workers during cutbacks.
S*x work. We’ve had robot s*x parts for years and human s*x workers still have customers.
Virtual girlfriends and AI generated porn are already here. Add a few AI operated sex toys and -as reluctant people are to leave their house- many of the costumers would stay home enjoying their personalized artificial sex life. And when androids might appear human sex industry will likely go extinct. Everybody can fulfill their dirtiest, most reprehensive, illegal fantasies with robots. Check out Spielberg's "AI".
Attorney. There are some things even AI won't do.
More so, this will not become AI if the jury remains human. As @Bear Hall commented, AI could be an attorney easy and probably will for non-jury cases but a robot appealing to human emotion ... well, I think that may be a bit far off. One have the best evidence, best argument but will still lose because jurors mostly decide with emotion parading as logic. That's usually how cases are won, emotional manipulation with a dash of logic to make them feel smart in their decision. I truly wish that wasn't the reality (at least of North American judicial systems), but it is.
Childcare.
Plenty of parents have been outsourcing a lot of childcare to the TV for decades, then smartphones and iPads. Sure, it won't change the nappies, but AI will be able to do a lot. A human carer would be better but again, it won't be the "better" that wins the argument. It will be "can an AI supervise and entertain my kids while I work this job that doesn't pay enough for me to afford a human carer" etc.
Someone who is empathetic, knows how to navigate conflicts, is open-minded and curious about the world, and inspires colleagues with their leadership is invaluable. Now, contrast that with someone who is cynical, unfriendly, rude, and widely disliked by their team.
If you had to make the hard decision to let one of these people go, who would you choose?
Creating those "prove that you are human by selecting all the ..." verification steps.
Pilot probably. AI has been flying planes for years. But we still need pilots because we just don't and can't trust computers with all those lives like that.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic, dear Pandas. What jobs do you think are going to be the most vulnerable in the Age of AI? Which professions do you personally believe are the safest? How worried are you about getting replaced in your line of work? Are you a techno-optimist, realist, or pessimist?
If you have a moment, tell us what you think in the comments at the bottom of this article.
AI programmers. Can't have the AI in charge of programming themselves now can we? Someone has to be around to pull the plug/hit the killswitch.
AI assisted coding is already a thing. It's pretty common now.
Specialized education. Private school teachers, sports coaches, tutors.
Surgery. So much of it is nuanced and requires precision to a degree that I can never see a non-human entity being able to perform.
-And its exactly what surgeon robots provide right now. They can move with unhuman precision while have incredible augmentation and sensor built right into their instruments that recognize sick and healthy tissue so they won't cut a micromillimeter more than necessary. There are already surgical instruments like that.
Note: this post originally had 49 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
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Interesting. My comments about AIs sometimes would take over most of these jobs are all downvoted. Either I'm completely wrong about everything or people are in complete denial. For example, I don't understand why people say "we would like a machine to do this or that for us." The biggest danger of AIs we WON'T KNOW when we are dealing with AIs. They will pass the Turing Test pretty soon if they haven't done that yet.
I don't even think it's denial, TBH, just lack of knowledge. A lot of these trades have already been revolutionised by IT and could potentially be moved into the realm of AI for significant parts of the processes.
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This is a weird one, but magicians. Robots will not be able to perform sleight of hand for a long time, and even if they do I don’t think people want to see a robot doing magic. They want to see a human
Thank you for sharing that, Fynne. I think that's a very creative insight:)
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This is painful. People are clueless about AI. I got to #15 on the list, and nearly all of them were wrong.
Interesting. My comments about AIs sometimes would take over most of these jobs are all downvoted. Either I'm completely wrong about everything or people are in complete denial. For example, I don't understand why people say "we would like a machine to do this or that for us." The biggest danger of AIs we WON'T KNOW when we are dealing with AIs. They will pass the Turing Test pretty soon if they haven't done that yet.
I don't even think it's denial, TBH, just lack of knowledge. A lot of these trades have already been revolutionised by IT and could potentially be moved into the realm of AI for significant parts of the processes.
Load More Replies... This is a weird one, but magicians. Robots will not be able to perform sleight of hand for a long time, and even if they do I don’t think people want to see a robot doing magic. They want to see a human
Thank you for sharing that, Fynne. I think that's a very creative insight:)
Load More Replies... This is painful. People are clueless about AI. I got to #15 on the list, and nearly all of them were wrong.
