Why This Study Matters?

How exactly is AI transforming the workplace—and which jobs are most exposed? A new Microsoft Research paper delivers one of the most detailed answers yet. By analyzing real interactions with Copilot, the study quantifies the applicability of AI across various roles, showing where AI is adding value, automating tasks, or leaving roles mostly untouched^[1].

Study Overview

The research combines empirical usage data with occupational taxonomies to evaluate AI’s potential impact on job tasks. It provides businesses, professionals, and policymakers with a fresh lens on where AI is already making a difference—and where it’s not.

Data and Methodology

– Analyzed over 200,000 anonymized Copilot chat sessions (Jan–Sep 2024)
– Mapped each interaction to O*NET tasks using NLP
– Computed an AI applicability score (coverage, completeness, scope)
– Result: a real-world metric of how AI augments or automates each profession

This enables researchers to measure real-world AI utility—not theoretical assumptions—by using live product data^[1].

Key Findings: Section 4.3 – Occupations

This section ranks professions based on how frequently and effectively Copilot supports or completes their core tasks. It clearly identifies where AI is most “applicable.”

What is the “AI Applicability Score”?

This score reflects how well AI can support or take over key job tasks, based on:

• Coverage: How often AI engages with a job’s tasks
• Completeness: How well the task is fulfilled
• Scope: How many types of tasks AI can handle

Top 40 Jobs with the Highest AI Applicability Score

These roles are already being significantly supported or accelerated by AI tools like Copilot:

1. Interpreters and Translators
2. Historians
3. Passenger Attendants
4. Sales Reps (Services)
5. Writers and Authors
6. Customer Service Reps
7. CNC Tool Programmers
8. Telephone Operators
9. Travel Clerks
10. Radio DJs and Announcers
11. Brokerage Clerks
12. Home Management Educators
13. Telemarketers
14. Concierges
15. Political Scientists
16. Journalists and News Analysts
17. Mathematicians
18. Technical Writers
19. Proofreaders
20. Hosts and Hostesses
21. Editors
22. Business Professors
23. Public Relations Specialists
24. Product Demonstrators
25. Advertising Sales Agents
26. New Account Clerks
27. Statistical Assistants
28. Rental Clerks
29. Data Scientists
30. Financial Advisors
31. Archivists
32. Economics Professors
33. Web Developers
34. Management Analysts
35. Geographers
36. Models
37. Market Research Analysts
38. Telecommunicators
39. Switchboard Operators
40. Library Science Professors

These roles involve language, writing, reasoning—AI’s sweet spot. ^[1]

Bottom 40 Jobs with the Lowest AI Applicability Score

These occupations rely on manual, physical, or human-centric tasks where AI still lacks capability:

1. Phlebotomists
2. Nursing Assistants
3. Hazardous Material Removal Workers
4. Painting and Plastering Assistants
5. Embalmers
6. System Operators (Other)
7. Oral Surgeons
8. Glass Installers
9. Ship Engineers
10. Tire Repair Technicians
11. Prosthodontists
12. Production Helpers
13. Highway Maintenance Workers
14. Medical Equipment Preparers
15. Packaging Machine Operators
16. Machine Feeders
17. Dishwashers
18. Concrete Finishers
19. Firefighting Supervisors
20. Tractor Operators
21. Ophthalmic Techs
22. Massage Therapists
23. Surgical Assistants
24. Tire Builders
25. Roofing Assistants
26. Gas Compressor Operators
27. Roofers
28. Oil Field Laborers
29. Housekeepers
30. Paving Equipment Operators
31. Logging Operators
32. Motorboat Operators
33. Orderlies
34. Floor Sanders
35. Pile Driver Operators
36. Rail Maintenance Workers
37. Foundry Workers
38. Water Treatment Operators
39. Bridge Operators
40. Dredge Operators

^[1]

Implications for Workers and Employers

If your role ranks high in AI applicability, leverage automation tools like Copilot to boost productivity.
For low-ranking roles, human value remains high—but digital skills are still essential.

Companies can use this study to:

• Target high-impact AI investments
• Streamline workflows
• Upskill the workforce based on real data

Need help applying AI in your company? Contact us.

Understanding the AI Shift

Microsoft’s study offers a data-driven view of how AI is reshaping work.
Some jobs are being transformed, others are untouched—but all are evolving.
Understanding AI applicability is essential to stay relevant and competitive.

References

[1] Tomlinson, K., Jaffe, S., Wang, W., Counts, S., & Suri, S. (2025). Working with AI: Measuring the Occupational Implications of Generative AI