Upon Open AI’s public release in November of 2022, artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant advancements; it went from a tool that students used to facilitate their homework, all the way to a generative machine that has the potential to replace countless jobs. Students worry about their career paths being taken over by AI, but how large is the threat, really?

To start, it is imperative to remember that AI does not have human judgement. Its interpersonal capabilities are low, it can’t assess a person’s trustworthiness, and it can’t understand human emotions. Therefore, there is only so much that it can replace. According to a Harvard Business School publication, AI is most likely to replace “automation prone occupations.” Automation prone occupations include more repetitive tasks, or what some people may consider ‘busy work.’

Cashiers, office clerks, customer service representatives, accounting, bookkeeping, auditing, and call centers are projected to decline over the next decade according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. They’re all jobs that can become increasingly automated as AI technology advances. Utilizing AI instead of paying employees would largely conserve businesses’ funds and management. As an effect, it may become more difficult to build a career based on these paths, and therefore harder to find jobs in these lines of work.

Among jobs that can be passed onto AI, many entry level jobs may be replaced as well. Compared to upper level management, entry level jobs tend to have more repetitive tasks – ultimately, this can completely alter the career ladder in some fields. Moreover, automation is predicted to replace around 30% of jobs in the United States. While this statistic is not definite, it is evident that numerous companies are willing to shift their operations to utilize AI.

While 92 million jobs may be displaced, according to the World Economic Forum, 170 million more will be created. It’s almost like another industrial revolution; however, instead of humans being replaced by machines in factories, it’s turned into humans being replaced by automation in white-collar jobs. Then and even now, there are ways to adapt.

As mentioned earlier, AI lacks human judgement and interpersonal skills. Numerous careers spread over a wide range of fields, everything from healthcare to journalism to law to first responders, require this skillset. AI may be used for data processing, but not for real interactions. While many of these jobs may be assisted by AI in the future, it will only be to enhance productivity – not to replace them.

Additionally, experts suggest learning how to work with AI, rather than running away from it or working against it. Companies are searching for employees who are well versed in the language of AI – this is so that they are able to oversee automated jobs within the company. According to a Harvard Study, “workers [will be] required to interpret, manage, and validate AI-assisted outputs while focusing on higher-order tasks that combine human expertise with AI-enhanced efficiency.” These are the categories of jobs that will be created: jobs that keep AI in check.

It is imperative to keep in mind that AI will limit the amount of entry jobs available in multiple industries, so it’s best to research the extent of automation’s effects on a given industry – it will not be the same for all of them. There will surely be some career paths that will be more affected than others; some will be completely wiped, while others will grow. Sophia Dumitrascu (10) agrees on this point: “Many students need to evaluate whether their dream job is going to be taken over by AI or if they can step up and earn their spot in the shrinking workspace.”

Jasmine Moawad (10), who confirmed that “the jobs I might consider pursuing have little relation with AI,” will have more options in terms of job openings, although her industries of interest are still competitive.

In short, AI certainly will affect students’ ability to find jobs; however, the best course of action is to research, stay up to date with changes in the automation industry, learn how to work with AI, and go with the flow. Although the AI revolution feels like an upheaval at this point in time, it will eventually become the new norm.