How over is it?

A mood ring wired to real instruments

AI exposure Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media

Will AI replace actors?

Actors. US occupation 27-2011.

10.1%

of the time actors spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of actors' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.

Ranked 182 of 756 US occupations. More exposed than 75% of them.Further along than 75% of them.

Average US job 7.7%

Well above the typical job.Ahead of most of the workforce.

What AI already does for actorsWhat actors no longer do alone

O*NET lists 18 tasks for actors. AI use at work shows up in 2 of them. Each score runs from 0.5, where every observed use helps a person with the task, to 1, where every use does the task outright.

  1. Learn about characters in scripts and their relationships to each other to develop role interpretations.Core task mostly automated 1.00
  2. Write original or adapted material for dramas, comedies, puppet shows, narration, or other performances. mostly automated 0.93

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

16 of the 18 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Attend auditions and casting calls to audition for roles.Core task
  • Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.Core task
  • Perform humorous and serious interpretations of emotions, actions, and situations, using body movements, facial expressions, and gestures.Core task
  • Portray and interpret roles, using speech, gestures, and body movements, to entertain, inform, or instruct radio, film, television, or live audiences.Core task
  • Read from scripts or books to narrate action or to inform or entertain audiences, utilizing few or no stage props.Core task
  • Study and rehearse roles from scripts to interpret, learn and memorize lines, stunts, and cues as directed.Core task
Show the other 10
  • Work closely with directors, other actors, and playwrights to find the interpretation most suited to the role.Core task
  • Work with other crew members responsible for lighting, costumes, make-up, and props.Core task
  • Construct puppets and ventriloquist dummies, and sew accessory clothing, using hand tools and machines.
  • Dress in comical clown costumes and makeup, and perform comedy routines to entertain audiences.
  • Introduce performances and performers to stimulate excitement and coordinate smooth transition of acts during events.
  • Perform original and stock tricks of illusion to entertain and mystify audiences, occasionally including audience members as participants.
  • Prepare and perform action stunts for motion picture, television, or stage productions.
  • Promote productions using means such as interviews about plays or movies.
  • Sing or dance during dramatic or comedic performances.
  • Tell jokes, perform comic dances, songs and skits, impersonate mannerisms and voices of others, contort face, and use other devices to amuse audiences.

How that compares

Among the 34 arts, design, entertainment, sports and media occupations, actors rank 15. The group averages 14.2%, and its most exposed job is Technical Writers at 47.5%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Just above in the ranking

  1. 178First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers 10.2%
  2. 178Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners 10.2%
  3. 178Prepress Technicians and Workers 10.2%

Just below

  1. 183Electronics Engineers, Except Computer 10.0%
  2. 183Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary 10.0%
  3. 185History Teachers, Postsecondary 9.9%

What this does and does not mean

Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.

A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.

Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.