How over is it?

A mood ring wired to real instruments

AI exposure Life, physical and social science

Will AI replace agricultural technicians?

Agricultural Technicians. US occupation 19-4012.

0.6%

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

Ranked 343 of 756 US occupations. More exposed than 54% of them.Further along than 54% of them.

Average US job 7.7%

Around the middle of the pack.Keeping pace with the average job.

What AI already does for agricultural techniciansWhat agricultural technicians no longer do alone

O*NET lists 48 tasks for agricultural technicians. AI use at work shows up in 1 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. Respond to general inquiries or requests from the public. mostly automated 0.97

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

47 of the 48 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Advise farmers on upgrading Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment to take advantage of newly installed advanced satellite technology.Core task
  • Analyze data from harvester monitors to develop yield maps.Core task
  • Analyze geospatial data to determine agricultural implications of factors such as soil quality, terrain, field productivity, fertilizers, or weather conditions.Core task
  • Analyze remote sensing imagery to identify relationships between soil quality, crop canopy densities, light reflectance, and weather history.Core task
  • Apply precision agriculture information to specifically reduce the negative environmental impacts of farming practices.Core task
  • Collect animal or crop samples.Core task
Show the other 41
  • Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS).Core task
  • Compare crop yield maps with maps of soil test data, chemical application patterns, or other information to develop site-specific crop management plans.Core task
  • Contact equipment manufacturers for technical assistance, as needed.Core task
  • Create, layer, and analyze maps showing precision agricultural data, such as crop yields, soil characteristics, input applications, terrain, drainage patterns, or field management history.Core task
  • Demonstrate the applications of geospatial technology, such as Global Positioning System (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), automatic tractor guidance systems, variable rate chemical input applicators, surveying equipment, or computer mapping software.Core task
  • Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones, based on soil characteristics and production potentials.Core task
  • Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information.Core task
  • Draw or read maps, such as soil, contour, or plat maps.Core task
  • Examine animals or crop specimens to determine the presence of diseases or other problems.Core task
  • Identify areas in need of pesticide treatment by analyzing geospatial data to determine insect movement and damage patterns.Core task
  • Identify spatial coordinates, using remote sensing and Global Positioning System (GPS) data.Core task
  • Install, calibrate, or maintain sensors, mechanical controls, GPS-based vehicle guidance systems, or computer settings.Core task
  • Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.Core task
  • Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks.Core task
  • Participate in efforts to advance precision agriculture technology, such as developing advanced weed identification or automated spot spraying systems.Core task
  • Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops.Core task
  • Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring.Core task
  • Prepare reports in graphical or tabular form, summarizing field productivity or profitability.Core task
  • Program farm equipment, such as variable-rate planting equipment or pesticide sprayers, based on input from crop scouting and analysis of field condition variability.Core task
  • Provide advice on the development or application of better boom-spray technology to limit the overapplication of chemicals and to reduce the migration of chemicals beyond the fields being treated.Core task
  • Recommend best crop varieties or seeding rates for specific field areas, based on analysis of geospatial data.Core task
  • Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care.Core task
  • Set up laboratory or field equipment as required for site testing.Core task
  • Supervise or train agricultural technicians or farm laborers.Core task
  • Use geospatial technology to develop soil sampling grids or identify sampling sites for testing characteristics such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium content, pH, or micronutrients.Core task
  • Assess comparative soil erosion from various planting or tillage systems, such as conservation tillage with mulch or ridge till systems, no-till systems, or conventional tillage systems with or without moldboard plows.
  • Conduct insect or plant disease surveys.
  • Conduct studies of nitrogen or alternative fertilizer application methods, quantities, or timing to ensure satisfaction of crop needs and minimization of leaching, runoff, or denitrification.
  • Determine the germination rates of seeds planted in specified areas.
  • Devise cultural methods or environmental controls for plants for which guidelines are sketchy or nonexistent.
  • Measure or weigh ingredients used in laboratory testing.
  • Perform general nursery duties, such as propagating standard varieties of plant materials, collecting and germinating seeds, maintaining cuttings of plants, or controlling environmental conditions.
  • Perform laboratory or field testing, using spectrometers, nitrogen determination apparatus, air samplers, centrifuges, or potential hydrogen (pH) meters to perform tests.
  • Perform tests on seeds to evaluate seed viability.
  • Prepare culture media, following standard procedures.
  • Prepare data summaries, reports, or analyses that include results, charts, or graphs to document research findings and results.
  • Prepare laboratory samples for analysis, following proper protocols to ensure that they will be stored, prepared, and disposed of efficiently and effectively.
  • Prepare or present agricultural demonstrations.
  • Record environmental data from field samples of soil, air, water, or pests to monitor the effectiveness of integrated pest management (IPM) practices.
  • Supervise pest or weed control operations, including locating and identifying pests or weeds, selecting chemicals and application methods, or scheduling application.
  • Transplant trees, vegetables, or horticultural plants.

How that compares

Among the 46 life, physical and social science occupations, agricultural technicians rank 36. The group averages 12.2%, and its most exposed job is Political Scientists at 45.2%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Just above in the ranking

  1. 340Civil Engineers 0.8%
  2. 340Occupational Therapists 0.8%
  3. 342Child, Family, and School Social Workers 0.7%

Just below

  1. 345Surveyors 0.2%
  2. 346Acupuncturists 0.0%
  3. 346Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders 0.0%

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.