AI exposure Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media
Will AI replace writers and authors?
Writers and Authors. US occupation 27-3043.
The reading
24.6%
of the time writers and authors spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of writers and authors' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.
Ranked 89 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 writers and authorsWhat writers and authors no longer do alone
O*NET lists 29 tasks for writers and authors. AI use at work shows up in 8 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.
- Write narrative, dramatic, lyric, or other types of poetry for publication. mostly automated 0.98
- Write humorous material for publication, or for performances such as comedy routines, gags, and comedy shows. mostly automated 0.90
- Develop advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, working with an advertising agency's creative director and art director to determine the best way to present advertising information. mostly automated 0.87
- Adapt text to accommodate musical requirements of composers and singers. mostly automated 0.86
- Plan project arrangements or outlines, and organize material accordingly.Core task automated and assisted 0.85
- Revise written material to meet personal standards and to satisfy needs of clients, publishers, directors, or producers.Core task automated and assisted 0.82
- Write articles, bulletins, sales letters, speeches, and other related informative, marketing and promotional material.Core task automated and assisted 0.79
- Invent names for products and write the slogans that appear on packaging, brochures and other promotional material. automated and assisted 0.72
What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human
21 of the 29 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.
- Attend book launches and publicity events, or conduct public readings.Core task
- Choose subject matter and suitable form to express personal feelings and experiences or ideas, or to narrate stories or events.Core task
- Collaborate with other writers on specific projects.Core task
- Conduct research and interviews to determine which of a product's selling features should be promoted.Core task
- Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail, using sources such as newspaper accounts, diaries, and interviews.Core task
- Confer with clients, editors, publishers, or producers to discuss changes or revisions to written material.Core task
Show the other 15
- Consult with sales, media and marketing representatives to obtain information on product or service and discuss style and length of advertising written material.Core task
- Develop factors such as themes, plots, characterizations, psychological analyses, historical environments, action, and dialogue to create material.Core task
- Discuss with the client the product, advertising themes and methods, and any changes that should be made in advertising copy.Core task
- Edit or rewrite existing written material as necessary, and submit written material for approval by supervisor, editor, or publisher.Core task
- Prepare works in appropriate format for publication, and send them to publishers or producers.Core task
- Present drafts and ideas to clients.Core task
- Vary language and tone of messages based on product and medium.Core task
- Work with staff to develop script, story, or advertising concepts.Core task
- Write advertising material for use by publication, broadcast, or internet media to promote the sale of goods and services.Core task
- Write fiction or nonfiction prose, such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays.Core task
- Write to customers in their terms and on their level so that the script, story, or advertisement message is more readily received.Core task
- Follow appropriate procedures to get copyrights for completed work.
- Review advertising trends, consumer surveys, and other data regarding marketing of goods and services to determine the best way to promote products.
- Teach writing classes.
- Write words to fit musical compositions, including lyrics for operas, musical plays, and choral works.
How that compares
Among the 34 arts, design, entertainment, sports and media occupations, writers and authors rank 9. The group averages 14.2%, and its most exposed job is Technical Writers at 47.5%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.
Just above in the ranking
- 87Web and Digital Interface Designers 24.9%
- 88Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks 24.7%
- 89Editors 24.6%
Just below
- 91Biological Scientists, All Other 24.5%
- 91Dietetic Technicians 24.5%
- 93Procurement Clerks 24.4%
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.