Will AI Make Certain Jobs Obsolete First? Examining the Future of Work and “Bureaucratic” Roles
As Artificial Intelligence continues to advance rapidly, many are questioning which jobs will be most vulnerable to automation and technological disruption. A common assumption is that AI will first replace the roles often labeled as “corporate bullshit jobs”—positions that appear to involve a lot of administrative tasks, meetings, and PowerPoint presentations, but seem to lack tangible value.
This raises an intriguing paradox: if AI is set to replace these administrative roles, shouldn’t they be among the first casualties of automation? In contrast, more traditional roles—such as housekeepers or factory workers—are often viewed as harder to automate entirely and might persist longer in the workforce.
A related concern is why certain academic disciplines—such as humanities, languages, design, or computer science—are perceived as more at risk in the age of AI, while fields like economics, finance, or public administration are seen as relatively safer. Is there a fundamental difference in the skill sets or cognitive demands of these fields that influences their susceptibility?
Understanding these dynamics is essential for workers, students, and industry leaders alike. As AI reshapes the employment landscape, identifying which sectors are most vulnerable—and why—can help us prepare for the transformations ahead. It’s worth exploring whether we should anticipate significant shifts in the types of roles that will endure, or if the notion of “bullshit jobs” will simply evolve in the age of automation.
Leave a Reply