SAN FRANCISCO–New research from OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, offers a forecast on which professions are now nearing the point where artificial intelligence and machines can outperform humans, and it has identified three jobs it said are likely to be replaced first.
OpenAI said that while a fully functional AGI system doesn’t yet exist, it’s getting closer. The company recently introduced GPDval, a benchmark it said is designed to measure how far current AI models have advanced toward that goal.
According to OpenAI, the test evaluates 44 professions across nine industries — from law and journalism to pharmaceuticals and software engineering — comparing AI’s performance with human professionals. The results show that AI already matches or exceeds human ability in 49% of the roles analyzed, the company said.
“A score of 50% would mean AI performs as well as or better than humans in most job-related tasks,” Open AI stated, adding that its findings indicate three professions are already at or just past that threshold and will likely be first to experience widespread automation.
Three Top Candidates for Replacement
The three job functions most likely to get the AI pink slip, according to OpenAI, are:
Project Management
OpenAI said project management topped the list of jobs most at risk, with AI achieving a 52% performance score. OpenAI’s report stated that AI systems can automate repetitive administrative work such as scheduling, tracking progress, and allocating resources.
In addition, AI can also analyze vast data sets to identify risks, forecast project outcomes, and optimize workflows — often faster and more accurately than a human manager.
“This allows leaders to focus on strategic planning rather than day-to-day coordination,” OpenAI said.
Computer Coding
Somewhat ironically, software development is another field where AI is rapidly closing the gap, according to OpenAI, which said its study found AI models scored 50%, matching the capabilities of human developers in key areas such as code generation, debugging, and efficiency optimization.
The report noted that tools like GitHub Copilot and OpenAI’s Codex already automate parts of the development process, and are expected to become even more effective.
Audiovisual Production & Direction
OpenAi reported that AI has also reached a 50% performance level in audiovisual production and direction, a field once thought to be among the last in which humans are replaced.. According to OpenAI’s data, new AI systems can now automate much of the post-production process, including clip editing, sound cleanup, subtitle creation, and color correction.
These capabilities dramatically reduce turnaround times and production costs, raising questions about how creative professionals will adapt as automation spreads through the entertainment industry, OpenAI noted.
