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AI exposure Transportation and material moving

Will AI replace commercial pilots?

Commercial Pilots. US occupation 53-2012.

0.0%

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

Ranked 346 of 756 US occupations. No AI use seen in the work yet, along with 410 other occupations.No handover started yet, along with 410 other occupations.

Average US job 7.7%

Among the least exposed jobs there are.Still waiting for liberation.

What AI already does for commercial pilotsWhat commercial pilots no longer do alone

O*NET lists 24 tasks for commercial pilots. None of them shows meaningful AI use at work yet.

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

24 of the 24 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.Core task
  • Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly.Core task
  • Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.Core task
  • Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required.Core task
  • Conduct in-flight tests and evaluations at specified altitudes and in all types of weather to determine the receptivity and other characteristics of equipment and systems.Core task
  • Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.Core task
Show the other 18
  • Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.Core task
  • Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.Core task
  • File instrument flight plans with air traffic control so that flights can be coordinated with other air traffic.Core task
  • Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.Core task
  • Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes.Core task
  • Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.Core task
  • Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance.Core task
  • Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.Core task
  • Request changes in altitudes or routes as circumstances dictate.Core task
  • Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.Core task
  • Supervise other crew members.Core task
  • Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.Core task
  • Write specified information in flight records, such as flight times, altitudes flown, and fuel consumption.Core task
  • Fly with other pilots or pilot-license applicants to evaluate their proficiency.
  • Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations.
  • Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports.
  • Rescue and evacuate injured persons.
  • Teach company regulations and procedures to other pilots.

How that compares

Among the 44 transportation and material moving occupations, commercial pilots rank 15. The group averages 0.6%, and its most exposed job is Passenger Attendants at 11.7%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Level with 0.0%

  1. 346Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers 0.0%
  2. 346Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers 0.0%
  3. 346Commercial Divers 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.