Two-thirds of vacancies on the job marketplace Indeed now require skills that AI can competently handle. But this doesn’t spell an imminent takeover by machines, said Chris Hyams, CEO of Indeed, who recently shed light on the impact of AI on the job market.

Many roles demand human intuition, dexterity, and interpersonal engagement – traits that AI is far from mastering.

Hyams reassures job seekers that – so far – no role on Indeed can be performed entirely by AI. While AI excels in numerical computations, it falters in tasks requiring a human touch.

“AI can do math very well. It can’t draw an IV very well,” Hyams said as quoted by CNBC. He emphasises that customer service, nursing, and other interactive professions remain firmly in human hands.

The growing demand for soft skills

Despite the technological advances reshaping the workplace, demand for soft skills remains high. Indeed’s Hiring Lab research shows that references to generative AI – the technology behind tools such as ChatGPT – appear in only three out of every 1,000 job listings. This suggests that while AI is making inroads, human qualities such as empathy, decision-making, and collaboration remain indispensable.

Hyams pointed to the value of curiosity and adaptability in employees. “It’s funny, the more I do this, the less I’m looking for specific knowledge or experience,” he said.

The CEO instead favours individuals who immerse themselves in learning and exploring new areas with passion.

The potential and limitations of AI

Bill Gates also recently weighed in on how AI will transform jobs. He envisions AI providing high-quality medical advice and tutoring at no cost, heralding what he calls the era of “free intelligence”.

The billionaire founder of Microsoft acknowledges the pace of change can be unsettling. While AI may revolutionise industries, he insists that some aspects of human experience will remain irreplaceable.

“There will always be things we prefer to do ourselves,” he said in a recent interview, adding, “I doubt anyone wants to watch robots playing baseball.”

Beyond work, the influence of AI is rippling through creative industries. OpenAI’s latest image generation tool recently triggered a surge in Studio Ghibli-style AI-generated images, raising concerns over intellectual property and the future of human creativity.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called the phenomenon “biblical” in scale, reigniting debates on artistic originality in an AI-driven world.

Job displacement or job transformation?

As AI reshapes the employment landscape, concerns over job displacement are mounting. The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Future of Jobs Report indicates that 41% of employers plan to downsize due to AI.

However, lead author Till Leopold argues against the idea of a “jobs apocalypse”. Instead, he sees the challenge as one of adaptation, with 77% of employers focusing on upskilling their workforce and nearly half transitioning employees into new roles.

“The key takeaway is not that we might not have enough jobs,” Leopold explained. “The issue is really that jobs may look much different.”

White-collar roles heavy on data entry – such as clerical and paralegal positions – are particularly vulnerable, along with accounting and graphic design, as AI models continue refining their capabilities.

“Will accounting jobs [and] graphic design as they exist today still be around in five years? I think what we’re being told is very clearly, ‘No,’” Leopold said. “A new sort of job that is basically an evolved version will.”

Wall Street and AI jobs displacement

Over on Wall Street, banks are predicted to shed up to 200,000 jobs over the next five years because of AI adoption – with some firms expecting to cut 5% to 10% of their workforce, according to a study by Bloomberg Intelligence.

Yet, even in financial services, experts believe AI will drive transformation rather than the outright elimination of roles.

Tomasz Noetzel, one of the study’s authors, agreed: “Any jobs involving routine, repetitive tasks are at risk. But AI will not eliminate them fully. Rather, it will lead to workplace transformation.”

Preparing for an AI-driven future

Looking ahead, the emphasis will increasingly shift towards human-centric skills. Leopold stressed the need for what he terms “human skills” such as creativity, collaboration, resilience, and agility. And so, employees will need to differentiate themselves through uniquely human capabilities.

While AI is undoubtedly a powerful force reshaping industries, the future of work is not one of machines replacing people en masse. Instead, it is a story of evolution – where AI enhances efficiency, opens new opportunities, and compels workers to cultivate the skills that make them irreplaceable.