Study: AI threatens white-collar jobs, manual roles safer

New research indicates that artificial intelligence (AI) growth is poised to disrupt many white-collar jobs, with physical labor roles showing far less vulnerability. A study by Anthropic found that around 30% of workers in hands-on professions like cooks and mechanics have virtually no exposure to AI automation. This is because current large language models cannot execute physical tasks.

Conversely, white-collar sectors, including business, finance, and legal services, are at a greater risk. The report suggests AI could theoretically perform up to 94% of tasks for computer and mathematics professionals, though actual current AI integration remains lower due to various limitations. Workers who are highly educated, older, and well-compensated, such as lawyers and financial analysts, appear to be the most exposed to potential AI-driven changes in the job market.