10 Jobs Most at Risk of Being Replaced by AI in the Next 1-2 Years

Chatbots now answer customer questions, software drafts reports in seconds, and AI tools read invoices, translate documents and generate images on demand. As companies move AI from pilot projects into daily operations, some jobs are changing much faster than others. This guide lists the ten roles most exposed to AI automation in the next one to two years, explains why, and shows where affected workers can move next.

What Is AI Job Automation?

AI job automation is the use of artificial intelligence software, such as chatbots, document-reading tools and generative AI, to perform tasks previously done by people. Unlike earlier automation, which mostly replaced physical and highly repetitive work, AI can now handle language, images and simple decision-making, which puts many office and service jobs within reach.

According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, technology trends are expected to displace about 92 million jobs and create about 170 million new ones by 2030. The report lists clerical roles, including data entry clerks, administrative assistants and cashiers, among the fastest-declining occupations globally.

10 Jobs Most at Risk From AI in the Next 1-2 Years

1. Customer service and call centre agents

• Tasks AI takes over: Answering routine questions on order status, billing and password resets, 24/7 and in many languages.
• What still needs people: Handling complaints, sensitive cases and high-value customers.
• Where to move next: Customer experience specialist, AI chatbot trainer, escalation team lead.

2. Data entry clerks

• Tasks AI takes over: Reading forms, receipts and scanned documents and typing the data into systems.
• What still needs people: Checking exceptions and correcting errors the software flags.
• Where to move next: Data quality analyst, process automation operator.

3. Administrative assistants

• Tasks AI takes over: Scheduling meetings, drafting routine emails, summarising documents and taking minutes.
• What still needs people: Coordinating people, managing priorities and handling confidential matters.
• Where to move next: Executive assistant, office operations or project coordinator.

4. Basic translators and transcribers

• Tasks AI takes over: Translating everyday documents, creating subtitles and transcribing meetings.
• What still needs people: Legal, medical and literary translation, plus final quality checks.
• Where to move next: Specialist translator, localisation editor, AI translation reviewer.

5. Entry-level copywriters and content writers

• Tasks AI takes over: Drafting product descriptions, simple social posts and formula-based SEO content.
• What still needs people: Original reporting, expert analysis and a distinctive brand voice.
• Where to move next: Content strategist, editor, subject-matter writer.

6. Telemarketers

• Tasks AI takes over: Making scripted outbound sales calls with automated systems and AI voices.
• What still needs people: Complex consultative selling and relationship building.
• Where to move next: Account manager, inside sales consultant.

7. Bookkeeping and accounts clerks

• Tasks AI takes over: Matching invoices and payments, categorising expenses and reconciling accounts.
• What still needs people: Analysis, tax planning, audits and advising business owners.
• Where to move next: Financial analyst, tax consultant, accounting system specialist.

8. Junior graphic designers for routine work

• Tasks AI takes over: Producing banners, social media graphics and template-based layouts.
• What still needs people: Creative direction, brand strategy and original concepts.
• Where to move next: Art director, brand designer, AI-assisted creative producer.

9. Entry-level software testers and coders

• Tasks AI takes over: Writing simple functions, generating test cases and catching common bugs.
• What still needs people: System design, security, complex debugging and product decisions.
• Where to move next: Software engineer, QA automation engineer, AI tools specialist.

10. Visual quality inspectors in factories

• Tasks AI takes over: Checking products for scratches, dents or missing parts with computer vision.
• What still needs people: Investigating root causes of defects and supervising inspection systems.
• Where to move next: Quality engineer, vision system technician.

Replaced or Transformed?

In most of these fields, AI is more likely to reduce the number of workers needed than to wipe out a job entirely within one to two years. The speed of adoption depends on cost, regulation, data quality and customer acceptance, and it varies widely between industries and countries. Workers who remain typically take on more complex, judgement-based tasks.

New roles are emerging at the same time, from AI trainers and data specialists to jobs that combine industry knowledge with the ability to supervise and improve AI systems.

How Workers Can Prepare

• Use AI tools now: learn the AI features already available in your current job instead of waiting for them to be imposed.
• Build human skills: complex problem-solving, negotiation, leadership and empathy remain hard to automate.
• Deepen domain expertise: knowledge of a specific industry, product or regulation is harder to replace than general tasks.
• Keep certifying: short courses in data, digital tools and AI can be completed in weeks, not years.
• Move toward oversight roles: people who check, correct and manage AI output are increasingly in demand.