Top Five Careers feeling most anxious about AI

New data reveals the top five jobs most anxious about AI in America.

• Lawyers are the most worried about advancements in AI, according to a new study.
• Artists, accountants, data analysts, and doctors round out the top 5.
• The research examined online search data relating to multiple job roles to determine the careers wariest of AI in the United States.

The study, conducted by GenAI customer support experts DevRev, analyzed online search data for terms relating to a list of careers – including ‘AI impact on…’, ‘will AI replace…’, and ‘how will AI affect…’ – to determine Washington’s top five jobs most at risk of advancements in AI.

#1 – Lawyers

Lawyers are the #1 most cautious of AI in the U.S. AI is used in law practice to review and analyze large volumes of legal contracts, research relevant law case studies, and communicate with clients through chatbots. However, the absence of human input can often lead to biased results depending on the data.   

#2 – Artists

American artists are the #2 career most worried about advancements in AI. To name a few examples, AI can create book covers, album art, and music videos within a short space of time. However, the generative artificial intelligence tools used in this process gather data from existing work without the original creators’ consent and without crediting them personally or financially. 

#3 – Accountants

Accountants take #3 place in the United States. AI is used in accounting firms to generate financial reports and arrange expenses efficiently. Despite these advantages, using AI within accounting can lead to detrimental data breaches from cyber criminals searching for investment decisions.   

#4 – Data Analysts

Data analysts rank #4 in America. AI is used by data analysts to analyze large amounts of data quickly, revealing trends and offering insight into studies, for example. However, artificial intelligence is prone to mistakes and works best alongside human input, as is the case for data scientists.  

#5 – Doctors

Doctors rank #5 in America. AI assists healthcare professionals by helping to spot early signs of disease, collating large numbers of medical images, and scanning patients’ medical records. While this is useful, insufficient malware can overlook examples otherwise seen by doctors, posing a substantial threat to patients’ health.   

The careers most anxious about AI in the United States

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Here at Basil & Salt – we bit down a bit deeper for the top concern, the legal industry. Here is what we found:

The integration and impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession have been significant, shaping various aspects of legal practice. Here’s a summary of key points and developments in this area:

1. Timeline of AI in Legal Services (2023):
   • January: Legal tech integrated ChatGPT-3.5, Microsoft invested in OpenAI, and DoNotPay used ChatGPT in legal representation but later discontinued due to controversy.
   • February: ChatGPT reached 100 million users. Law firms began addressing generative AI policies.
   • March: OpenAI released GPT-4, which could pass the bar exam. There was a rise in legal job demand for AI specialists.
   • April: Security concerns with ChatGPT arose.
   • May: Thomson Reuters launched new generative AI offerings. Deepfakes posed challenges in courts.
   • June to August: Law firms adopted AI more widely. MIT released generative AI principles.
   • September to December: Focus shifted to educating the legal industry about generative AI. OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Anthropic’s Claude 2 passed legal ethics exams. Purdue Global Law School launched an AI course​​. ¹
2. Impact of Generative AI on Different Sizes of Law Firms:
   • Solo Attorneys: Use AI for growth, particularly in legal research and drafting.
   • Small Law Firms: Benefit from AI in exploring new practice areas and reducing grunt work for new associates.
   • Mid-Size Law Firms: Use AI to compete effectively and streamline processes.
   • Large Global Law Firms: Use AI to match client needs and expectations, especially in terms of pricing and in-house capabilities​​. ²
3. AI and Machine Learning in Legal Research:
   • AI is essential in legal research for analyzing massive data sets and uncovering crucial information.
   • Machine learning, especially supervised learning, is crucial for ensuring accuracy and reducing the risk of inaccuracies in legal research​​.³
4. AI-Powered Tools and Services in Legal Industry:
   • Bloomberg Law uses AI technology to accelerate research, streamline contract drafting, and analyze briefs.
   • AI tools are increasingly becoming a standard part of the legal industry, expected by clients for efficiency and informed decision-making​​.⁴

This information highlights the rapid adoption and diverse applications of AI in the legal sector, emphasizing its transformative role in legal practice and research.

1. Thomson Reuters, Legal ↩︎
2. Zach Warren, Thomson Reuters ↩︎
3. Bloomberg Law, August 2023 ↩︎
4. Bloomberg Law ↩︎

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