40 jobs AI can’t touch in 2025, says Microsoft Research: Is your career on the list?
Artificial intelligence may be reshaping offices, coding cubicles, and newsroom desks worldwide, but there’s one corner of the labour market where its silicon grip is surprisingly weak: Hands-on, high-skill, and high-touch jobs. A new Microsoft Research study, based on over 200,000 Bing Copilot interactions, reveals 40 occupations that remain largely beyond the reach of generative AI in 2025.While algorithms can draft press releases, analyse data, or even summarise laws, they still can’t safely draw blood, weld steel on a bridge, or change a tire on a rainy highway. If you’re wondering where to place your bets in a tech-dominated future, here’s where human expertise still reigns supreme. Here’s the list for you.
Why AI can’t replace these jobs yet
Most roles on this list share three traits that make them tough for generative AI to conquer:
- Physical precision and skill : From phlebotomists drawing blood to tire changers working roadside, these jobs require fine motor skills, not just mental computation.
- Real-world unpredictability: Ship engineers and hazardous materials handlers work in environments where split-second human judgement is vital. No chatbot can yet improvise in a crisis.
- Human connection and care: Nursing assistants, massage therapists, and surgical assistants deliver not just services but empathy and trust, a dimension technology still struggles to replicate.
What this means for students
While AI will continue to alter the professional landscape, it is not an unstoppable job destroyer. The Microsoft study suggests that careers rooted in human dexterity, physical presence, or social intelligence will remain resilient for years to come.For students mapping their future:
- Healthcare and specialised surgery roles stay in high demand globally.
- Skilled trade jobs, from tire repair to bridge maintenance, will weather automation far better than routine desk-based work.
- Hybrid expertise, blending technical knowledge with manual skill or emotional intelligence, will future-proof your career.
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