I want to start by emphasizing the word "really" in this context. AI is already used for complementing existing jobs by streamlining processes which ultimately can reduce the number of personnel required. But that's not completely handed over to AI, a human is still the main driver. I'm talking about 100% takeover. As in, this job will from now on be performed by an AI, you're all fired and we're never using humans again for this. Ever.
In the not so very far past, we believed that physical jobs will be the first to be taken over, but now we're seeing IT, finance and legal jobs being impacted more than others. Were we wrong to believe that in the first place?
The answer is a definite maybe. Physical jobs need a physical body to be performed. An AI by itself is simply code running on a machine. It cannot interact with the environment directly. We were saying AI, but actually thinking of robots.
You've probably heard this lately: AI will not be taking over your job, someone who is using AI will. That is the case for streamlining and optimization. You can virtually add AI to almost any job that requires a computer. Things are going to take less and be done better. Hence, freeing some time that the operator can use to do more, or something else, or something better or be fired. Because let's face it, you probably won't need quite as much personnel as you did before.
Someone using AI better will be even more productive making them a more valuable resource. That's where the battle will be taking place. The current workforce will have to get up to speed with operating AI in various aspects of their work. A good AI operator will have an edge over one who has not a good command of this technology. Similarly to the late 90s, early 2000s when knowing how to craft a good google search would significantly increase the chance of getting good results, knowing how to use AI in your job will give you a good chance of getting the expected outcomes. AI is now embedded in search engines as well, so you don't have to do major crafting to get relevant results, but you do have to know what you ask for. If it gets easier for online search, it gets more complicated for Gen AI, making prompting a crucial skill to be desired it in this part of the 21st century.
So what jobs are being taken over by AI completely and irrevocably in the nearby future?
Ask any kid what they want to become when they grow up. I don't know exactly what they would answer, but I do know what they would not. And that is: supermarket cashier, janitor, taxi driver, clerk, assembly line workers, any kind of factory worker or any repetitive job. These are just a few examples. I'm not trying to bash these professions or say that they are meaningless in any way. You might argue that a lot of people make a living from these, and that is completely true. However, ask any of them what they dreamt of being when they were little, if they could be whatever they wanted, and I assure you the answer will most certainly not be any of the aforementioned jobs. Kids don't dream of becoming janitors.
Now shift the perspective and think of children's dreams for the future, as humanity's dreams for the future. Children grow into adults but they dream all the same. Moreso, the childhood's dreams are still in there.
With this in mind, ask yourself: what do you want to do when you grow up?
Anything else is for the robots.