AI exposure Life, physical and social science
Will AI replace chemists?
Chemists. US occupation 19-2031.
The reading
26.1%
of the time chemists spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of chemists' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.
Ranked 85 of 756 US occupations. More exposed than 88% of them.Further along than 88% of them.
Per cent of working time Square-law scale
Average US job 7.7%
Well above the typical job.Ahead of most of the workforce.
What AI already does for chemistsWhat chemists no longer do alone
O*NET lists 12 tasks for chemists. 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.
- Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.Core task mostly automated 0.93
- Confer with scientists or engineers to conduct analyses of research projects, interpret test results, or develop nonstandard tests.Core task automated and assisted 0.77
What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human
10 of the 12 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.
- Compile and analyze test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions.Core task
- Conduct quality control tests.Core task
- Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.Core task
- Direct, coordinate, or advise personnel in test procedures for analyzing components or physical properties of materials.Core task
- Evaluate laboratory safety procedures to ensure compliance with standards or to make improvements as needed.Core task
- Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.Core task
Show the other 4
- Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.Core task
- Prepare test solutions, compounds, or reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct tests.Core task
- Purchase laboratory supplies, such as chemicals, when supplies are low or near their expiration date.Core task
- Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.Core task
How that compares
Among the 46 life, physical and social science occupations, chemists rank 8. The group averages 12.2%, and its most exposed job is Political Scientists at 45.2%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.
Just above in the ranking
- 82Financial Risk Specialists 26.5%
- 83First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers 26.3%
- 84Education Teachers, Postsecondary 26.2%
Just below
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.