AI-Resilient: 17 Jobs That Remain Human-Driven

2024-06-04

Artificial intelligence has become one of the world’s most exciting areas of technology, but many are worried that it may take over countless jobs, leaving millions of people out of work. Fortunately, some jobs will remain untouched by AI for the foreseeable future. 

AI on the Horizon

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Robert Way

With the ever-expanding scope of ChatGPT and other AI software, artificial intelligence has become a massive talking point in many industries. And many people fear that their jobs may be at risk of automation. But how true is this?

Some Jobs Are Safe

Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes

While many industries are likely to be affected by rapidly improving AI software, and some jobs will become entirely obsolete, there are still many careers that will require the human touch for the foreseeable future. Here are 17 jobs that won’t be replaced by AI or robots any time soon. 

Professional Athlete

Image Credit: Shutterstock / PeopleImages.com – Yuri A

While there has been some talk about the possibility of using AI to supplement professional coaching, the athletes themselves have nothing to fear. Currently, no form of AI is advanced enough to replace the physicality and hand-eye coordination of the human body in professional sports.

Stonemasons and Brickmasons

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Breedfoto

Many trade jobs are likely to survive the AI boom, including stonemasons and brickmasons. The technical skill, knowledge, and dexterity for building with brick and stone are still far outside the purview of AI automation. 

Painters and Plasterers

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Dmitry Kalinovsky

According to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, painters and plasterers (as well as the sister trades of paperhangers and stucco masons) cannot currently be replaced by AI automation.

Agricultural Equipment Operators

Image Credit: Shutterstock / byvalet

The agriculture industry is believed to be one of the least likely to be affected by AI, in particular, equipment operators. These are the people who operate tractors, threshers, balers, and other heavy-duty equipment used in farming, and this industry is even expected to grow by 30% in the coming decades. 

Cooks/Chefs

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Pressmaster

Cooks and chefs are part of a vital industry, responsible for carrying out the primary duties that restaurants, cafes, and commercial kitchens are built for. Currently, AI is still not able to prepare and cook food safely on a mass scale.

Hospitality Staff

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Click and Photo

It’s not just the cooks who are safe from automation – as of yet, hospitality staff such as servers, dishwashers, and bartenders are still needed to run restaurants and other venues smoothly.

Doctors

Image Credit: Shutterstock / PeopleImages.com – Yuri A

That’s right, doctors don’t need to tear up their medical school certificates just yet – their extensive knowledge of and skill in treating a variety of medical conditions will still be sorely needed for the foreseeable future.

Nurses

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Ground Picture

Nurses are another vital healthcare professional who isn’t yet in danger of replacement. Not only do nurses have invaluable knowledge of hospital operations and medical treatment, but they also need to engage with people and build connections in ways that no AI system can yet achieve.

Investigative Journalists

Image Credit: Shutterstock / BAZA Production

In a similar vein to nurses, investigative journalists are unlikely to be replaced by AI due to their ability to understand other humans on a deeper level. They need to be able to put people at ease and extract important information through conversation, skills that are still out of AI’s reach.

Plumbers and Electricians

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Kunakorn Rassadornyindee

We’ve already discussed the fact that tradespeople will be some of the least likely to be affected by AI automation. But AI expert and author Martin Ford believes that plumbers and electricians are two of the “safest” professions, as they still require a high level of “dexterity, hand-eye coordination and flexibility.” 

Cleaning Attendants

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Small365

Sure, self-operating vacuums like the Roomba might exist, but technology is still not advanced enough to automate cleaning work. We still need human dexterity to clean those hard-to-reach corners and dust the top shelves!

Mental Health Counselors 

Image Credit: Shutterstock / LightField Studios

With a growing need for mental health resources and professionals in countries around the world, counselors and therapists aren’t going anywhere. AI may be used to help with diagnoses and therapy development, but it can’t replace the knowledge and empathy of a trained human professional. 

Physical Therapists

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Ground Picture

While virtual physical therapy programs and diagnostics for at-home sessions are already a reality in some places, AI cannot yet simulate the specialized care and attention that physical therapists provide for their patients. 

Social Workers

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Monkey Business Images

Social work is a vital form of community care and requires the kind of judgment and human intuition that artificial intelligence has yet to achieve. Like many industries on this list, AI technology may aid social workers but it is unlikely to replace them.

Teachers

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Drazen Zigic

Children are our future, and we are not yet ready to entrust screens and robots with 100% of their education. While AI will be used to assist them, teachers in elementary, secondary, and tertiary/vocational education will still be working for decades to come. 

AI and Machine-Learning Specialists

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Gorodenkoff

Since AI isn’t about to go anywhere, careers that involve studying, developing, and implementing AI are going to be highly sought after for the foreseeable future. Major companies and even government agencies are already seeking AI and machine-learning specialists 

Looking Ahead 

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Gorodenkoff

If the ability of AI is growing exponentially, then there is no guarantee that these careers will be untouched by this technology forever. But in the meantime, people in these industries have little to fear from artificial intelligence.

23 Steep Taxes Adding to California Residents’ Burden

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Alex Millauer

California: a place of sunshine, innovation, and, unfortunately, some of the nation’s highest taxes. From LA’s beaches to Silicon Valley’s tech hubs, residents grapple with a maze of state taxes. Here’s a glance at 23 taxes that might surprise both Californians and outsiders. 23 Steep Taxes Adding to California Residents’ Burden

Cash in on Nostalgia: 21 Toys Now Worth a Fortune

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Kostikova Natalia

Time to dust off the boxes and find that once-cherished toy from your childhood. For collectors and enthusiasts, they items have become valued objects and they can be worth big bucks – are there any of these in your attic? Cash in on Nostalgia: 21 Toys Now Worth a Fortune

Millennials Don’t Buy These 19 Products Anymore

Image Credit: Shutterstock / mariakray

Millennials are changing consumer habits, quietly replacing once-staple products and traditions. Often criticized for their disruptive preferences, this generation is reshaping the marketplace with digital expertise, ethical buying, and a taste for the unconventional. Millennials Don’t Buy These 19 Products Anymore

10 Reasons Firearms Are Essential to America’s Fabric

Image Credit: Shutterstock / rblfmr

Americans’ strong attachment to guns is influenced by constitutional rights, historical context, and cultural traditions. This article explores the cultural perspective driving their unwavering support for gun ownership, revealing the key factors shaping this enduring aspect of American life. 10 Reasons Firearms Are Essential to America’s Fabric

California’s 16 New Laws Raise Red Flags for Prospective Residents

Image Credit: Shutterstock / PeopleImages.com – Yuri A

California, celebrated for its beaches, tech prowess, and diversity, is now gaining attention for its recent legislation, prompting some residents to reconsider their residency. Explore the new laws of 2024 and the controversies and migration they’re stirring. California’s 16 New Laws Raise Red Flags for Prospective Residents

The post AI-Resilient: 17 Jobs That Remain Human-Driven first appeared on Thrift My Life..

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock.

The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or replace professional financial advice.