The Impact of AI: Which Roles Are Replaceable and Where Will Growth Be?

AI is rapidly transforming industries globally, and Australia is no exception. From customer service to healthcare, AI is changing how businesses operate, but the question is which roles can be replaced, and which should remain human-driven? Striking the balance between automation and the human touch can be tricky.

AI’s Role in the Australian Workforce

Research shows that AI has the potential to add $315 billion to the Australian economy by 2028, according to PwC. It’s certainly unnerving to know that as much as 40% of Australian jobs may be impacted by automation in the next 15-20 years. Industries like healthcare, retail, and finance, are already integrating AI to improve efficiency, but many are still feeling their way to decide which tasks can be automated.

Capabilities and Limitations

AI excels in routine tasks that are repetitive or data-driven, such as customer service chatbots or inventory management.

However, AI struggles with creativity, emotional intelligence, and complex ethical decisions—areas where human involvement remains crucial, such as in healthcare and education.

Identifying Replaceable Roles

• Repetitiveness: Roles like data entry or basic customer service are ripe for automation. In manufacturing, AI can automate routine tasks, boosting productivity.
• Data-Driven Tasks: AI is ideal for jobs that require data analysis, like fraud detection in finance, where AI can process transactions and flag suspicious activity faster than humans.
• Predictability: Roles with predictable tasks, like stock management in retail, are increasingly automated, helping Australian companies like Woolworths optimise operations.

Roles AI Can’t Replace: The Human Touch

Certain roles still require the human touch, particularly in industries like healthcare, education, and law. In Australia:

• Healthcare: While AI assists in diagnostics, human doctors provide the care, judgment, and emotional support patients need.
• Creative Roles: Jobs in advertising, design, and marketing require human insight to craft compelling narratives and connect with consumers.
• Ethical Decision-Making: In law and public policy, AI cannot replace human judgment when it comes to nuanced decisions involving values and ethics.

The Economic and Social Impact of AI

AI will reshape the workforce in Australia, with up to 5 million Australians at risk of job displacement by 2035. However, the McKinsey Global Institute estimates that AI could also create 4.8 million new jobs, many in fields like AI development, data analysis, and robotics.

Reskilling the workforce will be essential. In healthcare, for example, roles will evolve with AI-assisted diagnostics, while in agriculture, AI-powered drones are helping farmers optimise their processes.

Real-World Examples of AI in Action in Australia

• Retail: Woolworths uses AI robots for stocktaking, while Coles uses AI to predict consumer behavior.
• Healthcare: Cure Metrix is enhancing diagnostic accuracy for Australian radiologists, and AI is supporting faster diagnosis in cancer care.
• Agriculture: AI-powered drones in Australia are monitoring crop health and optimizing farming practices, improving efficiency and resource use.

Key Takeaway

Striking the right balance between automation and human involvement will be key as we move ahead. AI excels in repetitive, data-driven, and predictable tasks, while humans remain essential for creativity, empathy, and ethical decision-making. By carefully adopting a hybrid model, Australian businesses can enhance productivity without sacrificing the human element. Careful reframing of the opportunity, we have with AI will empower our teams to embrace the changes  creating a more efficient and compassionate workforce.

We need to highlight human-AI collaboration. This perspective shift has the potential to move the conversation from fear of the unknown toward a proactive, solution-focused dialogue to embrace AI and create a more palatable middle ground.

Emphasizing reskilling and education is crucial, as the future of work will require adaptability. We should highlight the diverse new opportunities created by AI and champion ethical guidelines and human oversight to ensure that society’s best interests are served. This approach will go a long way towards promoting a vision of prosperity, not survival, and a more optimistic and hopeful narrative.