Microsoft Study: AI's Effect on Jobs Beyond Tech

Published Date : 31/07/2025 

A new Microsoft study analyzes 200,000 real AI interactions, showing that AI is reshaping roles in journalism, translation, proofreading, and sales, not just tech. 

A new Microsoft study offers a surprising glimpse into how generative AI is reshaping the global workforce. Contrary to common belief, it's not only high-tech professionals feeling the shift—salespeople, journalists, proofreaders, and translators are also in AI’s line of sight. And these aren't just predictions; they're based on real-world usage data that’s redrawing the employment map.

Published recently, the study analyzes 200,000 anonymous interactions with Bing Copilot and provides a fresh perspective on the professions most impacted by AI assistance. Unlike previous studies based on forecasts, this one examines how people are already using AI across different industries. The result is a clearer view of how AI is integrating into day-to-day work and which roles are most vulnerable.

Historically, technology has always shaped—and disrupted—labor markets. Steam engines and computers pushed entire professions into extinction, from telegraph operators to elevator attendants. Now, generative AI is stepping up as the next “general-purpose technology,” with nearly 40% of Americans already using AI tools at home or at work. That adoption rate outpaces both the PC and the internet in their early days.

Instead of speculation, Microsoft’s research focuses on what AI is currently doing. The data collected over nine months in 2024 from users in the U.S. highlights how AI is already performing tasks across a wide range of professions. Among the most common tasks users sought help with were information gathering and writing. Think office assistant, but digital and highly scalable. But there's more to it: the study emphasizes the distinction between the user's goal and the AI’s action. For instance, a user trying to print a document has the goal of “operating office equipment,” while the AI’s action is to “instruct use of equipment.” This subtle difference helps identify whether AI is completing the task or just guiding the user.

To quantify AI’s impact, Microsoft developed an “AI applicability score” for each profession, combining usage frequency, task success, and potential influence. It used the O NET database, which breaks jobs into hierarchical work activities. So who’s most at risk? Jobs involving knowledge work—such as IT, mathematics, and office support—show the highest AI applicability. Surprisingly, sales roles also rank high due to the focus on communication and information delivery. But topping the list, by a wide margin, was translation: 98% of a translator’s tasks overlap with common Copilot queries. Other vulnerable professions include historians, writers, CNC programmers, brokerage clerks, political scientists, journalists, mathematicians, proofreaders, and editors.

Conversely, roles requiring physical human interaction, such as nursing assistants and massage therapists, or manual labor (like dishwashers, construction workers, and truck drivers) are far less affected, at least for now. Will AI replace workers—or empower them? The age-old question remains: will AI eliminate jobs or enhance them? Microsoft’s study doesn’t take a definitive stance. “The data focuses on usage, not outcomes,” researchers caution.

Looking back at ATMs, for example, they replaced one core bank teller task but led to a rise in teller jobs overall by freeing up staff to do higher-value work. Likewise, the study suggests AI is acting more as a service—a tool for training, consulting, or simplifying information—rather than outright replacing humans. Information gathering and writing not only rank as the most common AI uses but also receive the most positive user feedback. Yet despite AI’s effectiveness, the report notes limitations: an AI-written novel might struggle to emotionally engage readers, lacking lived human experience.

Interestingly, the study found a weak correlation between AI applicability and salary—meaning high-paying jobs aren’t necessarily more exposed. However, jobs that require a bachelor’s degree tend to score higher on the AI applicability scale than those requiring less education. Could AI usher in the proletariat revolution Karl Marx imagined? It’s too early to say, but Microsoft’s data does hint at major workforce changes.

A rare glimpse into a historic shift While the research is limited to one AI platform and a specific dataset, it offers a rare real-time snapshot of labor market transformation. What was once science fiction is now laid out in charts and graphs. Although the data focuses on the U.S., the trends are expected to affect most developed and developing countries—especially in the absence of global AI regulation. Even Microsoft has laid off thousands this year, citing AI as a reason for reshaping internal workflows.

At the safer end of the spectrum, the study lists 40 professions less likely to be affected—mostly those involving physical tasks, fine motor skills, or complex human judgment. Think physical therapists, construction workers, farmers, engineers, and surgeons. However, as robotics continues to evolve, even these roles may face disruption down the line. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the main focus of Microsoft's new study?

A: The study focuses on how generative AI is reshaping various professions, not just tech, based on real-world usage data from 200,000 interactions with Bing Copilot.

Q: Which professions are most at risk from AI according to the study?

A: The most at-risk professions include IT, mathematics, office support, sales, translation, historians, writers, CNC programmers, brokerage clerks, political scientists, journalists, mathematicians, proofreaders, and editors.

Q: How does AI currently assist users in their daily tasks?

A: AI assists users primarily in tasks such as information gathering and writing, often acting as a digital office assistant by guiding users through tasks rather than completing them entirely.

Q: What is the 'AI applicability score' and how is it calculated?

A: The 'AI applicability score' is a metric developed by Microsoft to quantify AI’s impact on professions. It combines usage frequency, task success, and potential influence, using the O NET database to break jobs into hierarchical work activities.

Q: Are high-paying jobs more exposed to AI disruption?

A: The study found a weak correlation between AI applicability and salary, meaning high-paying jobs are not necessarily more exposed. However, jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree tend to score higher on the AI applicability scale. 

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