Microsoft study reveals which jobs AI chatbots can help automate and which they barely touch

Microsoft researchers have identified 40 jobs where AI chatbots are likely to play a significant role in automation, while highlighting others where the technology has minimal impact. The study, based on an anonymized dataset of 200,000 conversations between U.S. users and the company’s Copilot chatbot (formerly Bing Copilot), focuses on how generative AI and large language models (LLMs) align with specific occupational tasks. The analysis revealed that roles centered on information delivery and communication—such as translators, historians, and writers—are most susceptible to AI integration. These jobs often involve tasks like research, drafting content, or interpreting data, which align closely with the capabilities of chatbots. However, the study avoided directly addressing whether AI would eliminate or create jobs, a contentious issue in the tech industry. Rival tech leaders have debated the potential for job displacement. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently warned that AI could eliminate up to half of white-collar entry-level positions within five years, a claim disputed by some industry executives. Others, like entrepreneur Mark Cuban, argue AI will ultimately generate more jobs than it replaces. The Microsoft paper does not explicitly assess the future of specific roles like interpreters or translators, nor does it guarantee safety for jobs with low AI overlap, such as dredge operators. Kiran Tomlinson, a senior researcher at Microsoft and lead author of the study, emphasized that while AI excels at supporting tasks like research and writing, it cannot fully replace entire occupations. “As AI adoption accelerates, it’s important that we continue to study and better understand its societal and economic impact,” she stated in a release to Business Insider. The research compared user queries and AI responses to determine which job functions align with chatbot capabilities. It found that AI chatbots are less likely to affect roles requiring physical labor or direct human interaction, such as phlebotomists, nursing assistants, and hazardous materials removal workers. However, the study noted that other AI applications—like those managing machinery or monitoring systems—could still impact such jobs. The findings align with broader discussions about AI’s role in reshaping the workforce. Unlike past technological shifts, which primarily affected manual labor, AI’s influence appears concentrated in office-based or information-driven roles. This distinction underscores the evolving nature of automation, as chatbots and LLMs handle tasks that demand cognitive skills rather than physical ones. Microsoft’s study highlights the growing reliance on AI for tasks involving data processing, language translation, and content creation. Yet it also stresses the importance of continued research to evaluate how these tools interact with human workers. The company’s Copilot chatbot, for instance, has demonstrated proficiency in interpreting and generating text but remains limited in executing hands-on or complex decision-making tasks. While the paper does not provide definitive conclusions about job security, it underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of AI’s impact. As generative AI advances, its integration into professional workflows will likely depend on how effectively it complements human expertise rather than replaces it. The research also points to the importance of distinguishing between different AI applications, as tools designed for data analysis or automation may affect industries in ways distinct from chatbots. The study adds to ongoing conversations about the future of work, with experts divided on whether AI will displace or augment jobs. Microsoft’s focus on chatbot interactions offers a snapshot of current capabilities but leaves room for further exploration of how broader AI systems might reshape employment across sectors.