Safest from the Bots: Microsoft’s List of “AI‑Proof” Jobs — From Translators to Embalmers
AI at work is real. But which jobs truly feel the impact—and which remain untouched? A new study by Microsoft Research, published in late July 2025, has sparked global debate by ranking the 40 professions with the highest “AI applicability”—jobs where tools like Copilot are already being used most frequently—and the 40 least likely to be supported by generative AI. Rather than predicting which jobs will vanish, the paper measures how often workers are turning to Copilot to assist with daily tasks. From the Headlines: The Top 10 Most “AI‑Applicable” Jobs Occupations with the strongest overlap between their duties and AI capabilities include: These roles rely heavily on communication, writing, summarizing, or data retrieval—areas where large‑language models excel. Jobs Where AI Barely Digs In At the opposite end of the spectrum are roles in the manual labor sector and direct-care fields—jobs where generative AI offers little current utility. Microsoft’s list of the 10 least AI-applicable jobs includes: These occupations demand physical presence, emotional labor, and human judgment—characteristics that today’s chatbots cannot replicate. Why Embalmers, Painters, and Phlebotomists Make the Cut The inclusion of embalmers and painters (helpers) stands out—jobs many assume less visible but highly skilled and tactile. Reddit users commented on this surprise, illustrating the perceived disconnect: “During med school, I did once think about going … become a mortician or an embalmer …” Microsoft emphasizes that its study measures only AI assistance in digital, text-based tasks—not future threats from robotics or automation. For now, roles like embalming or painting helpers simply don’t overlap with Copilot‑style usage. The Broader Message: AI as a Partner, Not a Replacement Researchers clarify: no occupation is currently performed entirely by AI. Even high‑overlap jobs like translation or writing require critical human oversight. The study simply tracks where workers already rely on AI to assist—not total automation. Microsoft also warns that this analysis is limited to language-based AI—not physical robotics—so even roles deemed safe today could face future disruption if robotics advances. The Debate: How Real is This a “Risk”? Some critics argue that the framing of “most vulnerable” jobs exaggerates risk. As noted on Reddit, the study measures AI applicability, not job elimination probability: “It’s a study of AI applicability… how useful will a human find AI in this profession?” Moreover, there is skepticism around Microsoft’s incentive to portray Copilot as transformative. Certain roles—like historian or translator—are more nuanced than chatbot summaries allow. What It Means for Workers — Today and Tomorrow Upskill, adapt, stay human. The takeaway is not doom, but opportunity. Workers are urged to adopt AI tools, deepen their digital fluency, and shift toward roles AI can’t replicate. Jobs anchored in emotional intelligence, hands-on skills, or in-person care remain relatively AI-resistant—for now. In sectors like customer service or content creation, AI is already a productivity aid. For roles such as nursing, massage therapy, construction, and embalming, human touch remains essential—and likely will for the foreseeable future. Some thought leaders, like Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, warn: “Everybody’s jobs will be different as a result of AI… if you’re not using AI, you’re going to lose your job to someone who uses AI.” Looking Ahead: What the Study Doesn’t Say Notably, the Microsoft report does not: Instead, it provides a snapshot of current trends in AI adoption—where Copilot is already being leveraged most, and where human presence remains irreplaceable. Why It Matters As businesses—and entire industries—integrate generative AI deeper into workflows, understanding which jobs are most amenable to AI support is critical. For workers and employers alike, the study encourages preparation: reskilling into areas less suited to AI, and leveraging AI in roles where it’s most useful. AI may reshape how we work, but for now at least, the jobs of painters, phlebotomists, and embalmers stand firm in the face of the chatbot revolution.
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- July 31, 2025
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