6 Jobs AI Has Already Devastated!

Profit
15 minutes ago
5 min read

The Automated Bloodletting Is Here...And It's Just Begun.

A robot unloads boxes with human coworkers at Amazon. — **Robots are ALREADY your coworkers at Amazon warehouses. Who in this picture can lift more, not get hurt, and eschews lunch breaks? Answer: NOT YOU!**

Artificial intelligence has already reshaped the job market in profound ways. You may have noticed layoffs and rising unemployment in sectors once considered stable, such as the vaunted tech industry. Job scarcity is becoming a harsh reality for many workers as AI systems replace tasks once performed by humans. This shift raises urgent questions about the future of work and the safety nets needed to support displaced workers. Here are 5 jobs where the "AI Grim Reaper" has created newly unemployed people in industries that weren't expected to die so prematurely...

Waymo car in Southern California. — Driverless cars were once thought to be as realistic as individual jet packs for a solo travel option. Now, you can order a driverless car service over a human rideshare — and save on a tip and small talk — in one fell swoop!

1) Drivers (Truck, Taxi/Rideshare, Delivery)

Drivers were thought to be safe for a few more decades, as we collectively assumed we're nowhere close to developing robots that can drive safely. Self-driving cars only exist in science fiction for the foreseeable future, right? How this happened: Advances in sensors, AI navigation, and machine learning have made autonomous driving technology viable for commercial use. Voila, Waymo is now here to take your blue collar AND gig jobs in one fell swoop. Why your job is at risk: Self-driving vehicles can operate continuously without fatigue, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. Supporting statistic: The American Trucking Associations estimates that autonomous trucks could replace up to 300,000 driving jobs by 2030. Yikes!

2) Travel Agents

Does anybody else remember going to Liberty Travel to speak with a travel agent to book all your needs for a trip to unfamiliar terrain? Not if you were born after Expedia made travel agents irrelevant! How this happened: The travel industry has seen a dramatic shift as AI-powered platforms offer personalized travel planning and booking services. Online travel agencies use AI to analyze preferences, compare prices, and suggest itineraries without costly human assistance. Why your job is at risk: This has reduced the demand for traditional travel agents, many of whom have lost jobs or seen their roles diminish. The convenience and cost-effectiveness of AI tools have made it difficult for human agents to compete, contributing to job scarcity and layoffs in the sector. Supporting statistic: As customers increasing use AI to book travel reservations, 50% of travel business is predicted to be destroyed by 2030 - through inefficient or wrong customer usage.

3) Telemarketers

Telemarketing was once a common entry-level job, but AI has drastically reduced the need for human callers with "robo calls". This is just another extinct entry-level job gobbled up by AI, which will delay people from starting their corporate ladder journey and its associated income needed to live.

How this happened: Automated voice systems and chatbots now handle large volumes of calls, using natural language processing to interact with customers. Why your job is at risk: These AI systems can work 24/7 without breaks, making human telemarketers less competitive. Companies have cut telemarketing teams, citing cost savings and efficiency. Supporting statistic: Based on projections leading up to 2030, 99% of tasks performed by telemarketers are considered susceptible to automation by AI, making human telemarketers all but moot!

McKiosk. — Get used to entering your own food order at McDonalds, because cashiers will be a rare sighting sooner than later. Will Mickey D's lower their prices since you are working as a quasi-cashier to get a freaking Big Mac?

4) Retail Cashiers

Retail cashiers have long been a staple of the shopping experience, but AI-driven automation is rapidly changing that. Fast food giants, McDonald's and Taco Bell, have already excised staff due to the proliferation of self-service ordering kiosks.

How this happened: Self-checkout machines and AI-powered payment systems now handle transactions faster and with fewer errors. For example, Amazon Go stores operate without cashiers, relying entirely on AI to track purchases. Why your job is at risk: Major retailers have reported significant reductions in cashier staff as these technologies become standard. This shift has led to layoffs and increased job scarcity in retail, pushing many workers to seek new roles or face unemployment. Supporting statistic: Over 350,000 to 600,000 U.S. cashier positions could be eliminated or shifted by 2030–2033. Cashiers face an 88% chance they will be automated out of their jobs, which is the highest rate for any major U.S. profession.

5) Manufacturing Assembly Line Workers

Long-gone are the days where a lone manufacturing job can support an entire family of 4 or 5 on that income stream alone. American manufacturing was already decimated by globalization and robotics, but now, AI is finishing the demolition!

How this happened: Manufacturing has been transformed by AI-driven robotics that perform assembly line tasks with precision and speed. Robots can work continuously without fatigue, reducing the need for human labor in factories. Why your job is at risk: Many companies have replaced assembly line workers with automated systems, leading to significant layoffs. This trend has increased unemployment among low-skilled workers and highlighted the growing divide between those who can work alongside AI and those who cannot. Supporting statistic: The August 2025 labor turnover survey shows a 12% dip in job openings compared to last year, with 313,000 job "separations" in manufacturing per Yahoo News. AI has hit this sector with decreases in job openings with an increase of terminations - the worst of both worlds!

6) Data Entry Clerks

Data entry jobs were once plentiful in every industry. As such, a skilled administrator would be afforded opportunities in multiple industries due to the "transferability" of this skill set. Not anymore! Data entry has been ravaged by AI technology.

How this happened: Data entry jobs involve repetitive tasks that AI excels at performing quickly and accurately. Optical character recognition (OCR) and machine learning algorithms can scan, interpret, and input data without human intervention. Why your job is at risk: Organizations that once employed large teams of data entry clerks have automated these processes, leading to widespread layoffs. The job scarcity in this field is a clear example of how AI replaces routine work, pushing displaced workers to develop new skills or face long-term unemployment. Supporting statistic: A recent MIT study found that artificial intelligence could already replace 11.7% of the U.S. labor market. (Per Banyan Hill.)

Androids may outnumber human staff sooner than later. — Which one of these factory workers is not like the others? Hint: he doesn't require being oiled up and programmed to work! But, he does require a paycheck and benefits.

Conclusion - AI Will Be a Digital Displacement Pandemic

Per the latest SHRM analysis, 15% of jobs in the U.S. across ALL industries, about 23 million total, are at a dangerous risk of being displaced due to automation. Companies already have now cited artificial intelligence in close to 50,000 job cuts in 2025. They are even hiding behind the usual "restructuring", "recession fears", or "economic uncertainty. Outside of retraining your skillset to become an AI SME (Subject Matter Expert), augmenting your passive income streams outside of one corporate job, picking up part-time or gig work, and transferring to less-impacted industries - maybe your only hope until legislation, regulation, tax penalties, and UBI (Universal Basic Income) ride in a white horse to save the day!