12 jobs ChatGPT will soon replace (according to ChatGPT)
Technology, robotics and automation are replacing jobs at an alarming rate. The World Economic Forum has estimated that artificial intelligence will replace some 85 million jobs by 2025. But one AI tool thinks it can do the work of several professionals in one go. ChatGPT, created by OpenAI and launched in November 2022, is on a mission to do everything for everyone.
I gave the large language model this article title and asked for the answer. “Sure, here are 12 jobs that ChatGPT might soon replace, with brief explanations for each,” it quickly responded. The answers refer to the general ability of a large language model when applied in the right way. Here are those twelve, so you can decide for yourself.
12 careers at risk of being replaced by ChatGPT: the LLM predicts
Customer service representative
“ChatGPT can handle customer inquiries, complaints, and support requests with 24/7 availability, reducing the need for human representatives,” said the LLM itself. It might have a point.
Base ChatGPT will not give responses to the same standard as your customer service reps, without a lot of prompting, examples and training. Serious customer service requires more advanced use of AI. But even though AI can automate responses and help people faster, there’s a higher level of support it can’t yet handle. Those humans who master the art of person-to-person, high empathy, warm and fuzzy customer care will be kept on to service those specific requests, sensitive cases or premium support offerings. They likely have long careers ahead of them.
Data entry clerk
ChatGPT is confident of this one. “With its ability to process and input large amounts of data quickly and accurately, ChatGPT can easily perform data entry tasks, minimizing errors and improving efficiency,” it explained.
If you’re turning up to work and punching numbers into a computer, your professional clock has been ticking for a while. See this as a lifeline. You’ve been handed the opportunity to reassess, retrain and go again. You can find work you love even more.
Technical support analyst
Step aside humans. “ChatGPT can provide technical assistance and troubleshooting for common issues, offering step-by-step guidance and solutions to users,” it boasted.
But this assertion doesn’t quite hold true. Non-technical people don’t want to follow wizards, watch videos or engage with a chatbot. The premium service of professional handholding and done-for-you services still has legs.
Content writer
ChatGPT is on a mission to replace all the jobs involving content creation, so it’s no surprise that content manager was next. “ChatGPT can generate articles, blog posts, and other written content on various topics, maintaining a consistent quality and adhering to specific guidelines,” the tool explained.
Not so fast, ChatGPT. Until you can create content without those giveaway signs, professional ghostwriters will still have a business. Seriously talented writers aren’t going anywhere. The best are tooling up and using AI for ideation, automation, or specific parts of the creative process, to outproduce the others.
Proofreader
“ChatGPT can review and correct grammar, punctuation, and style errors in written documents, ensuring polished and error-free text.” With this assertive description of its abilities, ChatGPT seemed pretty sure of this one.
It makes a lot of sense that a predictive machine could spot patterns in text and identify where errors had cropped up. Its beady eyes would likely find mistakes that humans didn’t see. But where factual accuracy, contextual relevance and day-to-day language is concerned, ChatGPT might still miss the mark.
Translator
What about translating large pieces of text into different languages? No problem, said ChatGPT, explaining that it can “translate text between multiple languages with a high degree of accuracy, making it a valuable tool for breaking language barriers.”
We’ll hand it this one. Laboriously going through documents to turn them from one language to another won’t require humans at some stage. However, some words or phrases don’t have exact translations. A bilingual human would understand the cultural differences between the languages.
Social media manager
LinkedIn, X and Instagram are no match for AI. “ChatGPT can create and schedule social media posts, respond to comments, and engage with followers, helping to maintain a brand’s online presence,” it confidently explained.
Maybe. But when every social media platform is flooded with AI-generated content and AI-generated comments, where will the humans hang out? Private communities and closed membership groups will still need human writing and personable moderators.
Virtual assistant
Lay off your VA, said ChatGPT. The tool insisted it “can handle administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments, managing emails, and organizing files, allowing professionals to focus on more critical tasks.”
But don’t give them notice just yet. AI tools are not a magic wand solution for everything your assistant can do. You might just find you swap the time spent instructing your VA for time spent managing tools. And no one wants that. How about instead of replacing your VA, you challenge your VA to make more impact? Empower them to use AI instead of saying goodbye.
Market research analyst
Once a role, now a prompt. “ChatGPT can analyze market trends, gather data, and provide insights to help businesses make informed decisions and develop effective strategies,” it said itself.
ChatGPT is a language model, not a business analyst. It doesn’t have real life experience and it probably can’t make your decisions for you. But objective analysis, free from personal experience and bias, might be a good thing. It can certainly dig into numbers and spot patterns which could be hugely beneficial if you don’t have a business analyst. Where the analysts themselves are concerned, they can use the powerful computing power of AI to spend less time analyzing data, and more time thinking of the next right move.
Tutoring and education support
Your kids can get better grades without a human teacher, according to ChatGPT, which said it can “assist students with homework, explain complex concepts, and provide personalized learning experiences across various subjects.”
The question isn’t whether or not ChatGPT can educate your kids. I’m sure that it can. The question is how they will best learn. Just because you can get reams of information from a language model, in a variety of formats, does not mean that the teaching will be effective in securing high grades and creating useful people. The kids have the final word for this one.
Recruitment coordinator
“ChatGPT can screen resumes, schedule interviews, and communicate with candidates, streamlining the hiring process for companies,” explained the LLM, meaning recruiters aren’t needed as much as before.
But when thousands of candidates are using AI to write their resumes, apply for roles and prepare for interviews, it becomes AI versus AI. Does this mean the best candidate will get each role, or can only a human recruiter make that call? Will traditional recruitment methods be infiltrated by AI-generated content and AI-generated filtering, meaning we go back once again to family connections and people you meet at events? For this one especially, a hybrid approach seems best.
Personal finance advisor
Finally, “ChatGPT can offer advice on budgeting, saving, and investment strategies, helping individuals manage their finances more effectively,” and saving the need to employ personal finance professionals.
ChatGPT’s worldview might not match yours. Its capacity for risk might not either. It doesn’t know where the markets are headed any more than your local hedge fund manager, no matter what they say during the sales call. So while a large language model can lay out a step by step plan to reduce your costs and give you ideas to 10x your income, your personal finance decisions should ultimately be personal.
The next wave of automation: 12 jobs ChatGPT could replace
If AI can replace the need for humans to do specific tasks, it makes sense that it will replace entire roles. But rather than those roles being wiped out completely, they will simply evolve. Technology, robotics, AI and automation will take care of admin and less meaningful tasks, leaving humans free to do what only they can do. This isn’t scary, it’s exciting. This isn’t a threat, it’s an opportunity. How will you make the most of the changing business world?