A leading AI researcher warns that hundreds of millions of jobs are vulnerable to automation as artificial intelligence accelerates across industries.
In a new post on X, Frontier AI researcher Yu Lin says 300 million full-time jobs around the world are highly exposed to automation.
Rummaging through the O*NET database for more than 900 US jobs, Lin reveals that white-collar roles face the highest risk of automation, with office and administrative support positions leading the list, followed by legal services, engineering and financial operations.
Lin’s data shows that 46% of office and administrative support roles are vulnerable to automation, highlighting that AI can take over tasks such as scheduling meetings, writing reports and data entry.
Meanwhile, the estimated share of jobs that are vulnerable in legal services stands at 44%, architecture and engineering at 37%, life and physical sciences at 36% and business and financial operations at 35%. Other high-exposure categories include community and social service at 33%, management at 32% and sales-related work at 31%.
By contrast, industries tied to physical or manual labor appear largely insulated. Production sits at 9%, construction and extraction register just 6% exposure, installation and repair at 4% and building maintenance at 1%.
The data suggests a stark divide between cognitive and manual work, suggesting AI will reshape professional employment long before it transforms blue-collar sectors.
Lin’s study also projects a net gain in productivity, with global GDP potentially rising by about 7% as automation drives efficiency and output.
Earlier this month, Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski said AI is already reshaping knowledge work and warned that a major wave of job displacement is inevitable as automation spreads beyond banking and finance. The chief executive of the Swedish fintech firm said many technology leaders are still reluctant to confront the full scale of disruption now unfolding across white-collar industries.
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at CapitalAI Daily are not investment advice. Investors should do their own due diligence before making any decisions involving securities, cryptocurrencies, or digital assets. Your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. CapitalAI Daily does not recommend the buying or selling of any assets, nor is CapitalAI Daily an investment advisor. See our Editorial Standards and Terms of Use.