Artificial intelligence (AI) has been defined as “the capability of a machine to mimic intelligent human behavior”. Basically, an artificially intelligent computer or device is one that’s programmed in a manner that allows it not only to imitate and copy human behavior but to learn on its own.

It’s inevitable that there are jobs which will be lost because of artificial intelligence. And it’s true that repetitive and low skill work will continue to absorb the brunt of the blow from AI and automation in the next decade or two.

Here are 10 jobs that likely will disappear with the rise of AI.

1. Receptionists

Today’s technology companies or multinational corporations that do not have office-wide telephone systems are increasingly using automated telephone and scheduling systems in their day-to-day operations.

With the advancement of the latest technologies such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa, human receptionists will be replaced at a faster rate. By 2015 one Japanese hotel had already installed robotic receptionists, and other businesses are trying them out. These technologies have voice-activated responses that collect all the necessary details.

If you’ve ever telephoned an office only to have an automated system direct you to the department you were trying to reach, that’s a form of AI doing the job of a human receptionist.

2. Telemarketers

There was a time when you dreaded answering the telephone because you thought a human telemarketer might be on the other end. Now robot telemarketers are quickly replacing them.

You may have already got robocalls on behalf of different services and products. Robot callers take less time to make more calls while eliminating the need for companies to pay people to do the job.

According to one projection, career growth in the telemarketing industry will decline by about 3% by 2024. This is mainly because telemarketers don’t need a high level of emotional or social intelligence to thrive, unlike other sales positions.

Cold-calling potential customers has a success rate below 9%, making the job highly susceptible to automation.

In addition, telemarketing companies report high turnovers and it’s not easy to find and retain good employees. Employers increasingly think it’s not worth the trouble when all you need to do is program one.

3. Proofreaders

Today, the internet is loaded with various effective proofreading software. From Microsoft Word’s simple grammar and spelling check, to other proofreading apps such as Grammarly, there are many apps that allow you to proofread your own work easily.

4. Accounting

This job role is anticipated to decline by 8% by 2024. And it comes as no surprise. Why? A lot of bookkeeping jobs are becoming automated if they aren’t already. Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, and FreshBooks already provide software that does all the bookkeeping work for you. Moreover, it’s more affordable than hiring a person.

Artificial Intelligence can handle a lot of accounting functions like audits, payroll, and tax preparation. Top accounting software providers—including Sage and Xero—have incorporated AI into their software to take care of basic accounting jobs such as risk assessment, invoice categorization, bank reconciliations, and audit processes such as invoice payments and expense submissions.

5. Market Research Analysts

The analysts in this sector play a crucial role in developing products, services, content, and messages. That said, automated surveys and AI can conduct research and collect the information more easily, accurately, efficiently, and faster.

There is a chatbot known as GrowthBot, which is used for sales and marketing. This technology can do research for you. It looks at different databases and reports back to you with lots of market research data. Moreover, because of the prevalence of survey apps and surveys, fewer people are carrying out market research. A company is less likely to pay an individual to give them information when they can get it for free.

6. Compensation and Benefits Managers

This particular job is expected to grow 7% by 2024, but that doesn’t exempt it from automation. As businesses expand, especially in the multinational markets, paper-based and human systems may present a lot of hurdles, costs, and time delays. Artificial intelligence saves money, effort, and time by offering services that would have otherwise been provided by many employees.

7. Advertising Salespeople

There was a time when advertising was much more physical than today. Billboards and print ads were popular. Then it expanded to radio and television. Now, advertising is moving towards social media and web landscapes that make it easy and convenient for individuals to buy space via free APIs (Application Program Interfaces) and self-serve advertisement marketplaces.

This eliminates the need for salespeople to sell advertisement space and makes it easier and faster for businesses to make money.

8. Couriers and Delivery Service

Delivery people and couriers also are being replaced by robots and drones. It seems only a matter of time before this job is fully automated. In 2016, Domino had the first ever pizza delivery in New Zealand using a drone.

Companies such as Amazon, have already begun using robots and drones to make deliveries.

9. Computer Support Specialists

While this field is expected to increase 12% by 2024, there are endless resources online including YouTube with hacks, step-by-step guides, and instructions on how to solve issues that would have otherwise demanded the services of computer support specialists.

In addition, more and more companies are increasingly relying on automation and bots to respond to support questions from both customers and employees.

10. Retail Salespeople

If you’ve recently visited a furniture store, car dealership, or the mall, you might have noticed that the salesperson didn’t assist you from the start to finish. Businesses are incorporating new automated systems that allow you to perform activities such as self-checkout when shopping.

Also, many modern buyers are internet savvy and they conduct research online before deciding what to buy. Even retail stores such as Walmart, are now allowing their customers to buy groceries online.


These aren’t the only professions that are threatened, and no one knows how soon human workers will be replaced. If you work at or are training for a job that could conceivably be replaced by automation (AI, drones, self-driving cars), you should probably have a backup plan.

Patrick BaileyTechnology
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been defined as 'the capability of a machine to mimic intelligent human behavior'. Basically, an artificially intelligent computer or device is one that’s programmed in a manner that allows it not only to imitate and copy human behavior but to learn on its own. It’s inevitable...