Artificial intelligence (AI) has a surprisingly limited impact on jobs, according to new research from Anthropic. The study found that only 4% of occupations rely heavily on AI, with the majority of use occurring in mid-salary roles such as tech, media, and education.
The research also revealed that workers in physical labor jobs, such as transportation and healthcare support, are less likely to use AI for their tasks. In contrast, high-wage professions like IT and software engineering tend to have a higher level of AI adoption.
However, the study’s findings suggest that AI is still transforming certain jobs, particularly those related to human interaction, such as foreign language teaching. The researchers argue that factors beyond technical feasibility, such as implementation costs and regulatory barriers, may be limiting AI adoption in high-wage sectors.
The data also suggests that AI’s impact on work is not yet widespread, with only about 36% of occupations incorporating AI for at least 25% of their tasks. This finding aligns with previous reports showing that few businesses have fully embraced the technology.
To better understand the economic impact of AI, Anthropic has launched the Anthropic Economic Index, which provides insights into how AI is affecting specific occupations and industries. The initiative aims to address concerns about labor costs, wages, and the consequences of automation, and offers data on actual AI usage based on user prompts with privacy protections in place.
Source: https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/11/ai_impact_hits_midtohigh_wage_jobs