July 9, 2025

Kayden Tran 

11th Grade

Fountain Valley High School

Imagine waking up one day to discover that a robot has replaced your job. Sounds like a scene from a sci-fi movie, right? But with how fast artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing, this scenario is becoming more realistic than ever before. AI is transforming industries like transportation, healthcare, customer service, and manufacturing. While it’s exciting to think about the future of technology, it’s also raising big questions and concerns, especially about the future of work.

AI is most effective when doing repetitive, rule-based tasks. Jobs like data entry, office clerks, and customer service representatives are already starting to be replaced by automation. Many companies are already using AI chatbots to answer customer questions and solve basic problems without human help. In stores, self-checkout stations and cashier-less technology are making cashiers less necessary. According to a 2024 article by The Washington Post, 73% of Americans believe cashier jobs are at high risk of being taken over by AI. People are also worried about jobs in journalism, software engineering, and even teaching. 

More advanced AI systems are also starting to replace white-collar jobs. In the legal field, AI is being used to review contracts and summarize documents, reducing the need for paralegals and legal assistants. In transportation, companies like Waymo and Tesla are testing self-driving trucks and cars, which could one day possibly replace delivery drivers. A recent warning from the CEO of Anthropic, an AI company, said that AI could wipe out half of all entry-level white-collar jobs in just five years. 

Even large tech companies are telling their workers to be ready. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told employees that AI will likely reduce corporate jobs in the next few years and said they should begin training in AI to stay competitive. But not all jobs are at risk. Careers that require emotional intelligence, human interaction, and physical work are harder to replace. These include healthcare workers, plumbers, electricians, artists, and therapists. These jobs depend on skills that AI cannot fully replicate, such as empathy, physical presence, or creativity.

AI is not just replacing jobs; it is also creating new ones. But these new jobs often require new skills. That’s why students and workers need to adapt. Learning how to use AI tools, improving problem-solving, and building communication and critical thinking skills will be important in a world where AI is everywhere.

The future of work will look different, but it’s not hopeless. Understanding which jobs are safe and which ones are not can help people prepare and make better decisions about their careers.