Artificial intelligence is changing the workplace faster than almost any technology in modern history.

Large language models, intelligent robots, autonomous software agents and AI-powered business systems are already performing tasks that once required full-time employees.

However, one of the biggest misconceptions about artificial intelligence is that it will simply eliminate millions of jobs.

That is not how technological change has historically worked.

Instead, AI is more likely to automate specific tasks, reshape job descriptions and reduce demand for some occupations while creating entirely new ones.

Some workers will spend less time on repetitive administrative work and more time solving complex problems, building relationships and making decisions.

Others will need to learn new skills as routine work becomes increasingly automated.

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 estimates that technological change—including AI—will simultaneously create new jobs and displace others, with clerical and routine administrative roles among those expected to decline while demand grows for technology, engineering, healthcare and green-economy occupations.

The question therefore is not:

“Will AI replace every worker?”

The better question is:

“Which tasks can AI perform better, faster or more cheaply than humans?”

Here are 20 jobs that are among the most likely to be significantly automated or transformed by 2035.

1. Data Entry Clerks

Data entry is one of the most automation-friendly occupations.

Modern AI systems can already:

Read documents
Extract information
Recognize handwriting
Process invoices
Categorize forms
Validate information
Transfer records automatically

Optical character recognition combined with AI has dramatically reduced manual typing.

Rather than hiring large teams of data-entry workers, many organizations now process thousands of documents automatically.

Workers increasingly supervise exceptions instead of entering every record themselves.

2. Telemarketers

AI voice technology has improved dramatically.

Modern systems can:

Make calls
Answer common questions
Schedule appointments
Qualify leads
Transfer complex cases

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected long-term declines in telemarketing employment as automated communication technologies become more capable.

Human sales professionals will still be valuable for complex negotiations and relationship building.

Cold-calling at scale is increasingly becoming automated.

3. Basic Customer Service Representatives

Customer-service chatbots have become substantially more capable.

They can now:

Track orders
Reset passwords
Process refunds
Answer FAQs
Explain policies
Schedule appointments
Translate conversations

Human agents remain essential for:

Emotional situations
Escalations
Complex complaints
Legal disputes
High-value customers

Instead of replacing every customer-service worker, AI is likely to handle routine requests while humans solve more complicated problems.

4. Bank Tellers

Banking has been moving toward automation for decades.

Customers increasingly use:

Mobile banking
ATMs
Digital wallets
AI assistants
Online transfers
Mobile check deposits

Branch staff increasingly focus on:

Financial advice
Lending
Investments
Business banking

Routine transactions continue moving online.

5. Cashiers

Self-checkout systems continue expanding worldwide.

AI-powered retail systems can identify:

Products
Fresh produce
Payment methods
Inventory
Customer behavior

Computer vision technology is enabling stores where customers simply walk out after shopping while purchases are automatically charged.

Retail workers increasingly shift toward customer assistance rather than scanning products.

6. Travel Agents

AI can already:

Compare flights
Recommend hotels
Build itineraries
Translate languages
Estimate travel costs
Monitor delays
Rebook tickets

Human travel advisors continue serving:

Luxury travel
Complex international trips
Corporate clients
Adventure travel

Routine vacation planning increasingly happens online.

7. Bookkeepers

Modern accounting software increasingly automates:

Expense categorization
Bank reconciliation
Invoice matching
Payroll processing
Tax calculations
Financial reporting

Bookkeepers increasingly review exceptions instead of entering every transaction manually.

Professional accountants remain essential for:

Tax planning
Audits
Financial strategy
Business consulting

8. Payroll Clerks

Payroll software can automatically calculate:

Taxes
Overtime
Benefits
Deductions
Leave balances
Pension contributions

Human specialists remain necessary for unusual situations, compliance and employment-law questions.

9. Insurance Claims Processors

AI can rapidly analyze:

Photos
Documents
Medical records
Repair estimates
Policy information

Many straightforward claims are already partially automated.

Human claims specialists continue handling:

Fraud
Litigation
Catastrophic losses
Complex investigations

10. Receptionists

Virtual assistants increasingly manage:

Phone calls
Appointment scheduling
Visitor registration
Basic inquiries
Calendar management

Receptionists remain valuable where hospitality and personal interaction matter.

Routine front-desk administration continues becoming more automated.

11. Proofreaders for Routine Content

Grammar-checking AI has become highly capable.

Modern systems can detect:

Spelling
Grammar
Style
Tone
Clarity
Consistency

Human editors remain essential for:

Journalism
Publishing
Creative writing
Legal documents
Brand voice

Editing is changing—not disappearing.

12. Translators for Common Content

AI translation has improved enormously.

Routine translation now includes:

Emails
Websites
Manuals
Product descriptions
Customer support

Professional translators remain important for:

Legal documents
Literature
Diplomacy
Medical communication
Marketing

Context still matters.

13. Manufacturing Assembly Workers

Industrial robots continue improving.

AI enables machines to:

Detect defects
Adjust production
Handle objects
Improve quality
Predict maintenance

Workers increasingly supervise robotic systems rather than performing repetitive assembly.

14. Warehouse Pickers

Warehouse automation includes:

Autonomous robots
AI route optimization
Inventory recognition
Robotic picking
Smart shelving

Humans continue handling unusual items and overseeing operations.

15. Basic Graphic Designers

Generative AI can now create:

Social-media graphics
Marketing banners
Icons
Simple illustrations
Product mockups
Basic branding concepts

Professional designers remain valuable for:

Brand strategy
User experience
Creative direction
Complex campaigns

AI changes production—not creativity itself.

16. Junior Software Testers

AI increasingly automates:

Test generation
Regression testing
Bug detection
Code analysis
Security scanning

Human quality engineers remain essential for:

Strategy
Edge cases
User experience
Product understanding

17. Market Research Assistants

AI can quickly analyze:

Surveys
Customer reviews
Sales data
Social media
News
Competitor information

Researchers increasingly interpret findings rather than collecting raw information.

18. Legal Document Review Assistants

AI can search thousands of legal documents rapidly.

It helps lawyers:

Identify clauses
Compare contracts
Summarize cases
Find precedents
Detect inconsistencies

Lawyers continue making legal judgments.

Routine document review is increasingly automated.

19. Medical Transcriptionists

Speech-recognition AI now converts conversations into structured medical notes.

Healthcare professionals still review records for:

Accuracy
Compliance
Clinical judgment
Patient safety

Documentation is becoming faster rather than fully human-written.

20. Basic Content Writers

AI can rapidly produce:

Product descriptions
Simple blogs
Social posts
Marketing drafts
Email templates
Basic reports

Human writers remain critical for:

Investigative journalism
Original reporting
Strategy
Expert analysis
Brand storytelling
Creative writing

The competitive advantage increasingly comes from expertise, originality and trust rather than volume alone.

Jobs AI Is Least Likely to Replace

Some careers rely heavily on qualities that remain difficult to automate.

Examples include:

Surgeons
Electricians
Plumbers
Psychologists
Teachers
Scientists
Entrepreneurs
Skilled trades
Nurses
Executives
Emergency responders

These professions involve combinations of:

Physical dexterity
Human trust
Leadership
Creativity
Ethics
Adaptability
Emotional intelligence

AI is expected to assist these workers rather than replace them entirely.

Skills That Will Become More Valuable

Workers preparing for 2035 should focus on capabilities that complement AI.

These include:

Critical thinking
Problem solving
Leadership
Communication
Emotional intelligence
Creativity
Project management
Data literacy
Cybersecurity
AI literacy
Adaptability
Decision-making

Learning how AI works will become as important as learning how to use computers became during the internet era.

How to Protect Your Career

If your work includes repetitive digital tasks, start preparing now.

Practical steps include:

Learn AI tools relevant to your profession.
Build expertise that AI cannot easily replicate.
Improve communication and leadership skills.
Understand data and automation.
Continue learning throughout your career.
Develop industry knowledge.
Build a portfolio of real work.
Stay informed about technological changes.

Workers who learn to collaborate with AI are likely to have stronger long-term opportunities than those who ignore it.

Common Myths

“AI will replace everyone.”

No.

AI is expected to automate tasks rather than eliminate every occupation.

“Every AI job pays six figures.”

No.

Compensation depends on skills, experience, location and employer.

“Creative work is completely safe.”

Not entirely.

Routine creative production is increasingly automated, while originality becomes more valuable.

“Learning AI means becoming a programmer.”

No.

Many professions now benefit from understanding AI without requiring advanced software development.

Future Outlook

Artificial intelligence will reshape nearly every industry by 2035.

Routine administrative work will likely continue shrinking, while demand grows for professionals who can:

Build AI systems
Manage AI responsibly
Interpret AI outputs
Solve complex business problems
Lead multidisciplinary teams
Combine technical knowledge with human judgment

Rather than replacing every worker, AI is expected to become another workplace tool—similar to computers, spreadsheets and the internet, but far more powerful.

The people who benefit most are likely to be those who continuously adapt their skills as technology evolves.

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence is unlikely to create a future without work.

Instead, it will create a workplace where repetitive tasks increasingly belong to software, while humans focus on judgment, creativity, leadership and relationships.

The 20 jobs listed in this article are among those most likely to experience significant automation by 2035.

Many will not disappear completely.

Instead, they will evolve.

The safest long-term career strategy is not trying to avoid AI.

It is learning how to work alongside it.

Workers who combine technical understanding with uniquely human skills will remain valuable even as intelligent systems become more capable.

Disclaimer: Predictions about AI and employment are based on current technological trends, economic research and expert forecasts. The exact pace of automation will depend on regulation, adoption, business investment, labor markets and future technological breakthroughs. Individual careers may evolve differently across industries and countries.