How over is it?

A mood ring wired to real instruments

AI exposure Life, physical and social science

Will AI replace astronomers?

Astronomers. US occupation 19-2011.

38.5%

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

Ranked 38 of 756 US occupations. More exposed than 94% of them.Further along than 94% of them.

Average US job 7.7%

One of the most exposed jobs in the country.Front of the queue for an AI assistant.

What AI already does for astronomersWhat astronomers no longer do alone

O*NET lists 17 tasks for astronomers. AI use at work shows up in 4 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. Study celestial phenomena, using a variety of ground-based and space-borne telescopes and scientific instruments.Core task mostly automated 1.00
  2. Analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers.Core task mostly automated 0.94
  3. Review scientific proposals and research papers.Core task mostly automated 0.87
  4. Develop instrumentation and software for astronomical observation and analysis.Core task mostly automated 0.86

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

13 of the 17 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Calculate orbits and determine sizes, shapes, brightness, and motions of different celestial bodies.Core task
  • Collaborate with other astronomers to carry out research projects.Core task
  • Conduct question-and-answer presentations on astronomy topics with public audiences.Core task
  • Develop and modify astronomy-related programs for public presentation.Core task
  • Develop theories based on personal observations or on observations and theories of other astronomers.Core task
  • Measure radio, infrared, gamma, and x-ray emissions from extraterrestrial sources.Core task
Show the other 7
  • Mentor graduate students and junior colleagues.Core task
  • Present research findings at scientific conferences and in papers written for scientific journals.Core task
  • Raise funds for scientific research.Core task
  • Serve on professional panels and committees.Core task
  • Supervise students' research on celestial and astronomical phenomena.Core task
  • Teach astronomy or astrophysics.Core task
  • Direct the operations of a planetarium.

How that compares

Among the 46 life, physical and social science occupations, astronomers rank 4. 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. 35Human Resources Specialists 40.3%
  2. 36Financial Managers 39.1%
  3. 37Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service 38.6%

Just below

  1. 40Sociologists 38.3%
  2. 41Training and Development Managers 37.8%
  3. 42Graphic Designers 36.7%

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.