AI exposure Life, physical and social science
Will AI replace materials scientists?
Materials Scientists. US occupation 19-2032.
The reading
18.4%
of the time materials scientists spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of materials scientists' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.
Ranked 129 of 756 US occupations. More exposed than 82% of them.Further along than 82% 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 materials scientistsWhat materials scientists no longer do alone
O*NET lists 16 tasks for materials scientists. 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.
- Prepare reports, manuscripts, proposals, and technical manuals for use by other scientists and requestors, such as sponsors and customers.Core task mostly automated 0.95
- Perform experiments and computer modeling to study the nature, structure, and physical and chemical properties of metals and their alloys, and their responses to applied forces.Core task automated and assisted 0.82
What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human
14 of the 16 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.
- Conduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.Core task
- Confer with customers to determine how to tailor materials to their needs.Core task
- Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications.Core task
- Devise testing methods to evaluate the effects of various conditions on particular materials.Core task
- Plan laboratory experiments to confirm feasibility of processes and techniques used in the production of materials with special characteristics.Core task
- Recommend materials for reliable performance in various environments.Core task
Show the other 8
- Research methods of processing, forming, and firing materials to develop such products as ceramic dental fillings, unbreakable dinner plates, and telescope lenses.Core task
- Supervise and monitor production processes to ensure efficient use of equipment, timely changes to specifications, and project completion within time frame and budget.Core task
- Test individual parts and products to ensure that manufacturer and governmental quality and safety standards are met.Core task
- Test material samples for tolerance under tension, compression, and shear to determine the cause of metal failures.Core task
- Test metals to determine conformance to specifications of mechanical strength, strength-weight ratio, ductility, magnetic and electrical properties, and resistance to abrasion, corrosion, heat, and cold.Core task
- Visit suppliers of materials or users of products to gather specific information.Core task
- Write research papers for publication in scientific journals.Core task
- Teach in colleges and universities.
How that compares
Among the 46 life, physical and social science occupations, materials scientists rank 13. 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
- 126First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers 18.6%
- 126Loan Officers 18.6%
- 128Business Operations Specialists, All Other 18.5%
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.