AI exposure Life, physical and social science
Will AI replace soil and plant scientists?
Soil and Plant Scientists. US occupation 19-1013.
The reading
5.1%
of the time soil and plant scientists spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of soil and plant scientists' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.
Ranked 250 of 756 US occupations. More exposed than 66% of them.Further along than 66% of them.
Per cent of working time Square-law scale
Average US job 7.7%
Around the middle of the pack.Keeping pace with the average job.
What AI already does for soil and plant scientistsWhat soil and plant scientists no longer do alone
O*NET lists 27 tasks for soil and plant 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.
- Identify or classify species of insects or allied forms, such as mites or spiders. mostly automated 1.00
- Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.Core task automated and assisted 0.75
What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human
25 of the 27 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.
- Conduct experiments investigating how soil forms, changes, or interacts with land-based ecosystems or living organisms.Core task
- Conduct experiments to develop new or improved varieties of field crops, focusing on characteristics such as yield, quality, disease resistance, nutritional value, or adaptation to specific soils or climates.Core task
- Conduct experiments to investigate the underlying mechanisms of plant growth and response to the environment.Core task
- Conduct research to determine best methods of planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, storing, processing, or transporting horticultural products.Core task
- Consult with engineers or other technical personnel working on construction projects about the effects of soil problems and possible solutions to these problems.Core task
- Develop environmentally safe methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or pests.Core task
Show the other 19
- Develop improved measurement techniques, soil conservation methods, soil sampling devices, or related technology.Core task
- Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.Core task
- Develop new or improved methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests.Core task
- Develop ways of altering soils to suit different types of plants.Core task
- Identify degraded or contaminated soils and develop plans to improve their chemical, biological, or physical characteristics.Core task
- Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.Core task
- Investigate soil problems or poor water quality to determine sources and effects.Core task
- Perform chemical analyses of the microorganism content of soils to determine microbial reactions or chemical mineralogical relationships to plant growth.Core task
- Provide advice regarding the development of regulatory standards for land reclamation or soil conservation.Core task
- Provide information or recommendations to farmers or other landowners regarding ways in which they can best use land, promote plant growth, or avoid or correct problems such as erosion.Core task
- Study soil characteristics to classify soils on the basis of factors such as geographic location, landscape position, or soil properties.Core task
- Study ways to improve agricultural sustainability, such as the use of new methods of composting.Core task
- Conduct experiments regarding causes of bee diseases or factors affecting yields of nectar or pollen.
- Conduct research into the use of plant species as green fuels or in the production of green fuels.
- Plan or supervise land conservation or reclamation programs for industrial development projects.
- Plan or supervise waste management programs for composting or farming.
- Research technical requirements or environmental impacts of urban green spaces, such as green roof installations.
- Study insect distribution or habitat and recommend methods to prevent importation or spread of injurious species.
- Survey undisturbed or disturbed lands for classification, inventory, mapping, environmental impact assessments, environmental protection planning, conservation planning, or reclamation planning.
How that compares
Among the 46 life, physical and social science occupations, soil and plant scientists rank 27. 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
- 247Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary 5.3%
- 249Nurse Midwives 5.2%
- 250Nuclear Medicine Technologists 5.1%
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.