Microsoft Study Identifies Jobs Least Likely to Be Automated by AI

As artificial intelligence tools continue to expand into workplaces, concern is growing about which jobs could be automated and which will remain largely resistant to replacement. A new Microsoft study provides insight into how AI interacts with everyday work, highlighting both the roles most affected by automation and those least likely to change. While the findings underscore AI’s rapid influence on white-collar fields, they also reveal occupations where human skills remain difficult to replicate.

Measuring AI’s Reach in the Workplace

The Microsoft study, published last month, examined how workers use generative AI in professional contexts. Researchers analyzed more than 200,000 anonymized conversations with Bing Copilot, the company’s AI-powered chatbot, spanning January to September 2024. By studying the kinds of tasks users attempted with AI, the team developed an “AI applicability score” for different occupations, ranking how likely AI tools were to assist with or automate specific tasks.

According to Microsoft, the scores are designed to show where AI might change workflows rather than directly eliminate jobs. “Our research shows that AI supports many tasks, particularly those involving research, writing, and communication, but does not indicate it can fully perform any single occupation,” the company stated. The findings emphasize augmentation over replacement, suggesting that AI will reshape rather than fully take over many professional roles.

Still, the results highlight areas of vulnerability. Occupations requiring routine writing, information gathering, or customer communication were found to be highly exposed to AI integration. Jobs relying on physical expertise or direct human care, however, ranked much lower on AI applicability, reflecting the current limits of machine learning when it comes to complex physical or interpersonal tasks.

Which Jobs Are Safest From Automation

The study highlighted a list of ten jobs with the lowest AI applicability scores, indicating that they are less likely to be replaced or significantly transformed by automation in the near future. Many of these roles involve physical expertise or human-centered care that cannot easily be replicated by AI tools.

Here are the jobs Microsoft identified as least affected:

10. Tire Repairers and Changers
11. Ship Engineers
12. Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers
13. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
14. Plant and System Operators
15. Embalmers
16. Helpers-Painters, Plasterers
17. Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
18. Nursing Assistants
19. Phlebotomists (healthcare professionals trained to collect blood samples)

Healthcare and blue-collar trades dominate the list, underscoring the importance of human dexterity and specialized training. In medicine, adoption of AI has been slow due to both technical and regulatory limitations. Microsoft researchers noted that less than 10 percent of surgical data is publicly available, restricting the datasets needed to develop reliable AI models for clinical environments.

These findings reinforce a broader pattern: jobs that demand a physical presence, human judgment, or sensitive interpersonal skills remain the most resistant to automation. For now, those seeking job security in an AI-driven economy may find greater stability in fields where human labor is indispensable.

Which Jobs Face the Highest AI Applicability

At the other end of the spectrum, Microsoft identified the jobs most susceptible to AI integration, many of which fall under knowledge work or communication-driven roles. These occupations are already seeing rapid uptake of AI tools to assist with tasks such as writing, translation, and customer interaction.

Here are the ten jobs with the highest levels of AI applicability, according to the study:

10. Broadcast Announcers and Radio DJs
11. Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
12. Telephone Operators
13. CNC Tool Programmers
14. Customer Service Representatives
15. Writers and Authors
16. Sales Representatives of Services
17. Passenger Attendants
18. Historians
19. Interpreters and Translators

These results align with broader industry trends where companies are testing or implementing AI systems to reduce costs and streamline operations. Customer service, sales, and media communication stand out as areas where automation may have immediate business appeal. However, experts caution that AI-generated work in fields like writing and translation often raises quality and ethical concerns, particularly around copyright and originality.

Microsoft emphasized that while AI applicability is high in these occupations, it does not mean wholesale replacement is inevitable. Instead, the study suggests that AI is more likely to alter workflows and augment professionals in these fields rather than fully take over their responsibilities.