Every day, artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be in the headlines. And as this revolutionary technology emerges, it has many workers in fear of losing their jobs to machines and complex algorithms. And the fear is very real.
“By 2030, activities that account for up to 30 percent of hours currently worked across the U.S. economy could be automated—a trend accelerated by generative AI,” the McKinsey Global Institute wrote in a report.
That translates to about 12 million occupational shifts by 2030. Moreover, a study by the World Economic Forum found that 43 percent of businesses surveyed said that they intend to reduce their workforce as a result of technology integration.
Many studies found that jobs involving routine and repetitive tasks are at most risk of being taken over by AI. But it can get more complex than that, so let’s take a closer look at what jobs may end up on the machine’s chopping block.
Customer Service
If you’ve called a customer service number recently, you may have found that it’s difficult to get hold of a human. That’s because there simply aren’t enough there. Automated phone representatives and advanced AI chatbots have been known to handle routine tasks at an elevated success rate. And they can only get better. This could pose a challenge to jobs in communications, customer service, telemarketing, and other areas.In addition, self-checkout bots have also been eliminating cashier jobs. And some kiosks allow you to purchase products without the need to interact with a human at all. Amazon even has entirely self-serving grocery stores. The McKinsey study projects retail salespeople and cashier jobs to be cut by more than 800,000 in the next decade.
Food Service
From burger-flipping robots to AI-powered drive-throughs, restaurant and foodservice employees could take a nasty hit. There are even fully functional AI-driven chefs that could follow recipes, measure ingredients, and conduct other kitchen tasks. And a lot of people are not loving it or having it their way.In fact, anywhere from 10 percent to 80 percent of restaurant jobs could be replaced by automation, according to research by Loman.ai, an AI phone agent for restaurants.
Transportation and Delivery
As more self-driving vehicles deploy to our roads, anyone who drives for a living could take a major blow to their job security. This includes truck drivers and delivery drivers, as well as taxi, Uber, and Lyft drivers. In fact, more than 4 million jobs could be lost to such vehicles, according to research by GW Law.Data Entry Clerks
Advanced algorithms can now manage large amounts of data efficiently. This puts jobs like data-entry clerks in the crosshairs of the AI battalion. McKinsey estimates that demand for clerks could drop by 1.6 million jobs.Warehouse Workers
While warehouses are known to be filled by a large workforce, you may be surprised that there are plenty of robots working alongside humans there today. Automated pickers are already present in many distribution and fulfillment centers. And you can expect these machines to start making a larger presence. Even companies like Amazon and Walmart use robots for sorting, packing, and moving products.Not All Hope Is Gone
While AI is expected to displace millions of workers, it is also projected to create millions of new jobs. In fact, the World Economic Forum expects AI to create 97 million new roles in areas like AI development, data science, and human-AI engagements. However, this may require workers to learn new skills in the field.
Still, some professions are expected to thrive in the face of the AI revolution. In particular, these are jobs that require strong interpersonal skills, emotional support, creativity, and complex critical thinking.
“AI cannot replace jobs that require human intuition, empathy, ethical judgment, emotional depth, and physical presence,” Smart Forum wrote in a blog post. “Therefore, professions like doctors, mental health experts, teachers, police officers, artists, and writers, etc. are highly unlikely to be replaced.”
The Bottom Line
There’s no way to tell the future. Not even AI can do it. But the experts are suggesting that millions of jobs across industries like customer service, transportation and logistics, and food service could be lost in the next decade. However, AI is also expected to open millions of doors in opportunities. Granted, it would require many to adapt and learn new skills. Nonetheless, some fields are projected to remain resilient in the battle against AI. These include roles in health care, education, law, finance, and creative content creation.The Epoch Times copyright © 2025. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.
