As artificial intelligence and robotics leap forward at lightning speed, it’s only natural for us to ponder which jobs might soon vanish and which will endure. Some careers may already be on the extinction list.
While machines are getting better at tasks once thought uniquely human, there are still many amazing careers that remain firmly in human hands. Whether it’s because they require emotional intelligence, creative thinking, or nuanced judgment, these roles are unlikely to be replaced by AI agents or robots, at least not in the next decade. Let’s explore some of these careers where we still have the edge.
Athletes
Let’s start with an easy one. I reckon we won’t be rooting for robotic football players on TV by 2035. Not when robotics advancement is still lagging behind software-based AI, such as LLMs.
One can reflect upon the infamous Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) in 2024 where it held its inaugural motor racing event that ended in complete chaos.
Being a motor racing fan, I often ponder if I would support an AI racer over one who is flesh and blood. I foresee no. But I do hope someone could invent a new sport genre that can cater to AI technology rather than trying to bring AI into the human playing fields. This imagination doesn’t have to wander far – remember the movie Real Steel by Hugh Jackman?
Hairdressers
It would be hard for someone to trust a robot to mess with their hair and face, if you will. With their scissors being so close to our ears and eyes, I would not even try this even if they release a fully tested version, with liability insurance covered.
No, never in the next 10 years. I’d rather have Edward Scissorhands do my hairdressing.
Military Personnel
Should we completely trust AI robots to fight battles for our side? Fighting a war is not an everyday routine, so AI engineers would struggle to find enough data to train their autonomous mercenaries. Moreover, every war is different and against different enemies. Can AI be intelligent enough to distinguish between friend and foe? Seems too much collateral risk to bear, and ethical issues will surely arise. I do hope the UN could eventually step in to police this fast-growing defense tech arena.
Actors and Actresses
Here’s the question. In the next 10 years, would you pay for tickets to watch a movie performed by a bunch of AI-generated actors? Perhaps animated characters rather than robots. Could AI technology have advanced so much that it’s taking Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lawrence and co a run for their money?
10 years is a long time, but we’re already seeing AI catapulting onto the world’s stage, albeit as screenwriters which sparked the 2023 WGA strike. I personally know a startup back in 2020 that was trying to assist movie makers by writing feature scripts using AI.
Let’s see…
Enterpreneurs
This is a tough one. Having AIs running startups is a mind-bending idea. I imagine VCs sitting around brainstorming ideas, and once they hit a good one, they would rev up an AI model that could build software autonomously and market it too!
They would just get their principals to watch over their progress, burn rate and manage the reiterations. If the startup fails, stop the engine and start a new one. Rinse and repeat.
Screenwriters
This is a sensitive one. I was once an aspiring screenwriter, and I learned that getting your script made into a film is like winning the Super Bowl. It’s even more difficult than being a world champion in a particular sport. Because there are just so many screenwriter wannabes out there. Why? Because it’s easy to just turn on your computer and write away! Yes, anyone can write, including AI.
Which begs the question, could someone differentiate a script written by a man or a machine? It’s not hard to distinguish between real and AI-generated photos, at least for now. But a script may be harder. This is because screenplays usually follow a similar format and structure, such as the three-act structure and the hero’s journey. You can tell if you watch enough movies.
What is stopping a screenwriter or producer from getting “tips” from AI while writing their movies? But with the stronghold that the WGA has on Hollywood, I hope we won’t be seeing this happening in the next decade.
Presidents
Presidents need to make tough calls based on ethics and morals, cooperate with other world leaders, and stand up for their country’s values. These tasks are just things that we humans are better at.
Besides, do you see yourself voting for an AI president ten years from now? Presidents need to build trust and connect with the public, which is just super hard for AI to do. Leading a country means inspiring and uniting people, and that takes a human touch and spirit.
I left the best career for last. If AI can run a country, then we shall witness the end of mankind as we know it. The Terminator’s Skynet would finally be here.