What jobs are being taken over by robots and computers?

For companies looking to save money, the idea of replacing a human with a computer and robot is enticing. Compared to their human counterparts, robots can work without sleep, pay, or benefits and are generally more efficient and less likely to make mistakes. Robots can also free up traditional workers for more important or interesting jobs by performing repetitive or monotonous tasks. Lastly, robots can improve safety by replacing humans in dangerous work that involves the risk of physical harm.

Over the last few decades, robots and computers have made tremendous leaps in their performance and capabilities, becoming more commonplace in the workforce. The sections below detail occupations where robots have replaced or are replacing human workers.

Assembly-line and factory workers

Assembly and industrial robots controlled by computers can put together cars and other manufactured goods, in use since the late 1950s. Today, almost all large manufacturing jobs use robots in at least some capacity to produce millions of different products more efficiently and at a lower cost.

Many robots, like the Baxter and Sawyer from Rethink Robotics, don't require a skilled technician to implement; anyone can program them. As robots like these become less expensive and widely available, more companies can use them.

Bus, taxi, and truck drivers

Self-driving cars are becoming more of a reality. Examples include Tesla's assisted driving in their automobiles and Uber test cars, and more companies and services are beginning to utilize some version of this technology. As self-driving cars start to be used more, the potential for jobs lost is staggering as they could replace millions of bus, taxi, and truck drivers, and other transportation jobs.

Companies like Cat are even working on autonomous underground, dozing, drilling, and hauling solutions for mining and construction. Farming companies, like John Deere, also have autonomous tractors and lawnmowers that assist in driving.

Phone operators, telemarketers, and receptionists

We've all received automated calls, like those from telemarketing companies. As voice recognition and speech synthesis become more advanced, companies find it easier to implement these systems. As they continue to improve, many phone jobs are likely to be replaced by AI (Artificial Intelligence) software for troubleshooting problems, customer support, and telemarketing.

Cashiers and registers

Self-checkout lines are already available in most grocery stores today. Although humans still monitor these computers, the number of overall cashiers is significantly less than before they existed.

Fast food drive-thru

In 2023, fast food companies started experimenting with automated AI drive-thru chatbots. Several hundred fast food chains like Hardees, Del Taco, and Checkers are already testing these systems at many of their locations. It's only a matter of time before all drive-thru locations have some form of AI-assisted technology. If this technology is perfected, millions of workers whose job it's to run a drive-thru window will be replaced.

Bank tellers and clerks

Even though they've been around since the 1970s, ATMs have replaced human bank workers. These machines allow users to make deposits and withdraw funds from their accounts at any time of day.

Today, online banking apps and services allow users to move and deposit funds more easily than ever. Digital currencies, like bitcoin, are finding applications in more markets and industries, giving buyers further spending options for transactions that do not require human workers.

Packing, stockroom, and warehousing

Robots controlled by computers are replacing jobs that involve the shipment of goods. An example is the Amazon robots that move all products to employees who package and mail the products to customers. Below is a video of these robots at work.

While these robots help Amazon and its employees get packages to their customers faster than their competition, they've also replaced many workers.

Some companies even utilize autonomous forklift machines to move, load, and offload goods.

Pharmaceutical work

Many pharmacies are replacing their pharmacy technicians with robots capable of filling prescriptions for their customers. These robots help prevent mistakes and usually occupy a smaller footprint than their human counterparts.

Information gathering, analysis, and research

Law firms are replacing paralegals and other staff with e-discovery lawyers and research robots. These entities can comb through millions of documents and discover relevant facts, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and other information based on keywords.

Similarly, many financial analysts are being replaced by computer programs designed to find patterns and trends in financial data. These findings are then used to help with investment decisions and risk management.

Journalism and reporting

News agencies and websites are already employing computer-assisted writing (e.g., ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot) and information-gathering software robots. If you browse news stories on the Internet, you likely have read one generated by a computer. As this software develops, it's going to replace many journalist and reporter jobs.

Bartenders and baristas

Some companies are developing and implementing systems that mix and serve alcoholic or decaffeinated beverages. Services like Briggo are replacing baristas with robots that make many popular drinks and can learn to make new ones. The following video shows a bartending robot making drinks for customers on a cruise ship.

Stock traders

There were floors full of traders who previously handled stock transactions in the past. Today's markets are largely dominated by software that buys and sells stocks online, replacing most trading positions previously occupied by humans.

Postal workers

Postal workers who sorted mail in the past were replaced by automatic sorting machines that do their job faster without getting tired.

Doctors, anesthesiologists, and surgeons

Robots are currently assisting highly-skilled professionals like doctors and anesthesiologists. Some robots can perform common medical tasks or even minor surgeries without the aid of a human.

IBM's Watson computer is also used in the medical field to help doctors diagnose and review medical information and medical history, and help to develop and improve medical research. As it becomes more advanced, Watson may replace human workers by fielding jobs that handle these tasks.

Pilots, soldiers, and security guards

The United States Military is already using autonomous drones to conduct surveillance and attacks, removing the need for a pilot on location. As these drones become more advanced and capable, they're going to adapt to other fields, such as replacing the pilots of cargo planes used by FedEx, UPS (United Parcel Service), and similar companies. In addition to drones, organizations are already considering replacing their human pilots with computer-assisted ones.

Research and development is also underway regarding robots that replace humans in the field. These infantry robots can be deployed to guard an area, assist soldiers in carrying heavy gear, and detect and attack enemies.

Similarly, security guard robots patrol and monitor areas at night. For example, robots from Knightscope can (day and night) sense danger and immediately alert humans to potential threats.

Travel agents

Before the Internet, many people worked as travel agents to help find, arrange, and book the best deals for flights and cruises. Today, the Internet and computers can provide the same services as a travel agent.

Chefs and cooks

Robots prepare much of the packaged food you find at the grocery store. However, companies like Moley Robotics are also working to create robotic arms that act as personal chefs in your home kitchen. These robots could use your recipes or those of professional chefs.

Diffusing bombs

The military and police actively use bomb disposal robots to examine and, if found, destroy bombs without endangering humans. While these robots are not autonomous (humans still control them), they're an example of robots assisting people.

Typists and secretaries

Before computers, hundreds of secretaries and typists drafted letters and other documents. Today, the computer has made these jobs obsolete and with improvements in voice recognition capabilities, computers now also type for you as you speak.

Switchboard operator

Early phones required a human operator to be on the other side of the line, directing calls to whom you wanted to talk by manually moving plugs between jacks. Today, all switching is performed by computers and no longer requires a human operator.

Bowling pinsetter

Not many people realize that bowling alleys use robots to reset the pins each time someone knocks them down. In the past, a person would sit next to the pins, clearing and setting them each time someone bowled.

Film projectionists

When movies first ran in cinemas, a person ran the projector, which involved changing the reels during a show. Today's projectors are digital and usually run automatically or with minimal help from theater employees.

Home and garden

Even your home garden is being automated with projects like Farmbot, which plants produce of your choice, efficiently waters those plants, and removes weeds for you as everything grows.

Hotel staff and room service

A few hotels have started experimenting by replacing hotel staff, such as receptionists and room service employees, with robots that complete the same tasks. Like all other technologies, many humans are losing these positions as robots become more efficient and widely accepted.