New Delhi: No job is 100% safe from AI for the next 50 years, but the responses on Reddit indicate that people trust roles that require a human element and interaction. These jobs are considered to be least affected by the impact of AI as its tentacles spreads.
Reddit users feel that the ones relatively more secure are jobs involving skilled trades like plumbers, healthcare jobs such as nurses, therapists, midwives, and licensed professions like doctors and lawyers. These roles won’t be replaceable fully by AI in the near future, they contend.
‘Bet on a plumber over a coder’
One user said: “I’m a software engineer and I don’t even give my own career 5 more years. Everything is getting automated so fast. At this point, I’d bet on a plumber over a coder for long-term survival.”
Another user pointed out: “Plumber. In fact, most trades. We have a lot of old houses and buildings and we’ll need to service those for at least the next 100 years.”
“Your plumbing problems are non existent if you “LIVE IN A VAN, DOWN BY THE RIVER”, a user remarked.
‘AI cannot be responsible in the same way humans are’
Another user replied: “My wife is a midwife. I think her job is safe.”
A user responded by saying: “Nurse.” Reacting to it, one person wrote: “Washington State recently put the word “human” in front of every time “nurse” appeared in its nurse practice act.”
“My husband is a therapist and AI note-taking is already a thing, but it has nothing to do with his sessions and how they are carried out. Ultimately, he has to carry malpractice insurance and is responsible for outcomes. AI cannot be responsible in the same way humans are,” a woman said.
“Politician. They will never give up their money and power,” was the reaction of another user. “Lawyers and politicians will ensure their jobs are safe,” another person added.
“Veterinarian and vet tech. Aside the diagnosis part, handling animals in ways to get diagnostic information and treatments in a way animals tolerate is not something a machine will be able to easily do,” said one.
“Jobs where a licensed personnel needs to sign off on. Doctors, dentists, engineers, lawyers etc,” was another reply. Other replies included: human bartender, horse trainer, and a dog walker.
‘Govt jobs will be safer than anything’
A user’s reaction bordered on sarcasm: “I actually think government jobs will be safer than anything. People are more afraid to be ruled by robots and government is slow on adopting just anything.”
The conclusion derived from the discussion was that no job is fully immune to AI. But, as a user rightly said, roles like therapists, emergency responders, skilled trades, and teachers are among the most resilient because they require human presence, emotional intelligence, and real-world judgment that AI can’t fully replace.