AI’s growing presence in the workplace is reshaping job roles across the U.S., with a new survey showing that 20% of full-time workers have seen their tasks replaced by AI. However, AI isn’t just eliminating jobs; it’s also creating new opportunities for employees.
AI’s Expanding Role in the Workforce
According to a recent survey by Epoch AI and Ipsos, 20% of full-time employees say that AI has replaced parts of their job. This shift highlights AI’s growing impact on various industries. However, the survey also showed that 15% of workers have started to perform tasks they wouldn’t have without AI, indicating that AI is not only eliminating jobs but also enhancing them.
The survey further revealed that 50% of American adults used AI in the past week, either for work or personal tasks. Of those who use AI, 80% use it to look up information or recommendations, 59% to write or edit text, and 53% for brainstorming ideas. These numbers illustrate AI’s broad utility in everyday work activities.
Labor Market Restructuring: A Wake-Up Call for Policymakers
Experts are raising concerns that AI is driving a significant restructuring of the labor market. Nicholas Miailhe, an expert at the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, noted that 1 in 5 workers say AI is replacing parts of their job. This suggests that labor market changes are already occurring, and policymakers may be slow to catch up. The pace of these changes could outstrip governments’ ability to manage them effectively.
Further research is needed to understand the exact tasks being affected by AI. Caroline Falkman Olsson, who helped lead the research at Epoch AI, stressed that “we see augmentation and automation effects,” but more granular studies are required to determine the specific jobs AI is reshaping.
Autonomous AI Agents: The Future of Work?
The survey also shed light on the growing use of autonomous AI agents, which can perform tasks without human input. 8% of AI users reported using AI agents in the past week. While still in the early stages, this is a notable development. Renan Araujo, director of programs at the Institute for AI Policy and Strategy, highlighted to NBC the significance of this technology: “One in 12 Americans has used an autonomous AI agent, a software that not just answers questions but takes actions on your behalf.”
In comparison, 49% of AI users used AI for web searches, while other services like ChatGPT (used by 31%), Google Gemini (used by 21%), and Microsoft’s Copilot (used by 10.5%) are becoming mainstream tools for many workers.
The Changing Nature of Work: What’s Next for Workers?
The growing role of AI in the workplace raises critical questions about the future of work. While AI is replacing some tasks, it is also creating new tasks and opportunities. For example, AI-driven text editing, research, and data analysis are tasks that were either impossible or highly time-consuming before AI’s rise. As AI usage continues to grow, industries must figure out how to train and prepare workers for the changing landscape.
With the potential for job displacement and task augmentation, companies will need to consider how to integrate AI while supporting employees in the transition. As of now, 15% of workers are already performing tasks they wouldn’t have done without AI, highlighting the shifting nature of the labor market.
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