Quiz: Will AI Destroy Your Career? | WIREDSkip to main contentMenuSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSMenuAccountAccountNewslettersSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoLivestreamsMerchSearchSearchMaddy VarnerBusinessMay 26, 2026 6:00 AMQuiz: Will AI Destroy Your Career?Some jobs may be toast. Some will survive. Click your answers to learn your fate.Photo-illustration: Jacqui VanLiew; Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyThis spring, a team of top academic and think tank researchers tried to forecast AI’s effects on the economy between now and 2030. They surveyed dozens of economists, AI experts, and “superforecasters” about various scenarios, including one in which AI becomes so advanced that it can both write a “Pulitzer-caliber” book and negotiate its own publishing rights.In the survey, most experts said that higher-ranking occupations—CEO, administrative manager, senior official, legislator—would continue to grow, even under the “rapid” AI scenario. For most other people working a white-collar job, the forecast was murky.Researchers are in broad agreement that AI is doing something to the economy and that whatever it’s doing is very complex. Real numbers are hard to come by. That’s why WIRED has developed this thoroughly unscientific quiz, based on factors that researchers say might help determine who’s at risk.Is your job being affected by AI in ways this quiz didn’t capture? Contact Maddy securely on Signal at mvarner.01 or let us know in the comments below. 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Instead, she’s building AI that can collaborate.Will KnightUsing AI for Just 10 Minutes Might Make You Lazy and Dumb, Study ShowsNew research suggests that reliance on AI assistants can have a negative impact on people’s ability to think and problem solve.Will KnightWIRED is obsessed with what comes next. Through rigorous investigations and game-changing reporting, we tell stories that don’t just reflect the moment—they help create it. When you look back in 10, 20, even 50 years, WIRED will be the publication that led the story of the present, mapped the people, products, and ideas defining it, and explained how those forces forged the future. 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A recent survey of academic and think tank researchers attempted to forecast the effects of artificial intelligence on the economy between the present and 2030, exploring scenarios where AI achieves advanced capabilities, such as writing high-quality books and negotiating publishing rights. The results indicated that while higher-ranking occupations like CEO, administrative manager, senior official, and legislator were projected to continue growing even under a rapid AI scenario, the forecast for most other white-collar jobs remained uncertain. Researchers generally agree that AI is significantly influencing the economy in a complex manner, although obtaining precise real numbers is challenging, which led to the development of a quiz based on factors suggested by researchers to determine occupational risk.

Beyond economic forecasting, the landscape surrounding artificial intelligence is characterized by several complex and diverging narratives. One area focuses on the labor market, where concerns arise regarding AI gig work, where individuals who previously worked in creative fields, such as television production, are being compelled to train in AI skills to secure contracts. This shift highlights a disruption in traditional employment structures. Furthermore, discussions involve the ethical and safety implications of AI development, with former OpenAI staff and co-founders of watchdog groups raising concerns about the safety records of entities like xAI and the necessity for greater transparency regarding safety practices before public listings such as an initial public offering.

The influence of AI extends into cognitive functions, with research suggesting that over-reliance on AI assistants may negatively affect human abilities to think critically and solve problems. Existing research indicates that using AI for brief interactions might lead to a decrease in an individual's capacity for independent thought. Simultaneously, concerns are being raised regarding security and misuse of powerful AI technologies, including the potential for dangerous new Linux exploits that grant attackers root access to numerous computers. Law enforcement agencies are also actively monitoring the growth of anti-tech extremism associated with increasing AI hatred.

Current developments also touch upon the infrastructure and use of AI in established systems, as evidenced by proposed AI makeovers for platforms like the Bloomberg Terminal. In the realm of autonomous technology, specific incidents involving robotaxi crashes have drawn attention to the human involvement in these systems. Meanwhile, experts in the field are steering the development of AI toward collaborative approaches rather than complete automation, aiming to build systems that augment human capabilities. Overall, the discourse surrounding AI encompasses economic impact, labor displacement, ethical safety protocols, cognitive effects, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.