Artificial Intelligence: Can It Replace Humans?

Contents:

• High-Risk Jobs
• List of Layoffs Caused by Artificial Intelligence
• Advantages of Human Experts over Artificial Intelligence
• Experts from Various Fields on the Role of Artificial Intelligence
• Key Skills for Successfully Competing with Artificial Intelligence
• Key Aspects of Artificial Intelligence in Four Points

Today, employers around the world are increasingly implementing artificial intelligence to simplify routine operations and improve the efficiency of work processes. As a result, some professions are beginning to lose their relevance, and workers are faced with the need to adapt to changing conditions or even risk losing their jobs.

We set out to investigate the extent to which AI-related layoffs have become commonplace, how AI is impacting the Russian labor market, and the opinions of experts from various fields.

In this article from Skillbox Media's Marketing team, we will share the following information:

• There are certain professions that are at high risk. These include those involving physical labor, hazardous working conditions, or high levels of stress. For example, construction workers, emergency services personnel, and healthcare workers often encounter potentially hazardous situations. Furthermore, professions involving chemicals or high noise levels can also pose a health risk. It is important to note that the level of risk may vary depending on specific work conditions and compliance with safety measures.
• The list of employees who have been laid off due to the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies continues to grow. Companies around the world are rethinking their HR strategies in light of process automation. This often leads to the elimination of jobs where AI is capable of performing tasks previously assigned to humans. In such conditions, many specialists, especially in fields susceptible to automation, find that their roles are becoming redundant or less in demand. As a result, layoffs become a reality for many workers forced to seek new opportunities in a changing labor market.
• Regarding the advantages of human specialists over artificial intelligence, several key aspects should be noted. First, human professionals have emotional intelligence, which allows them to better understand and empathize with other people. This quality is especially important in fields such as psychology, medicine, and customer service, where sensitivity to the feelings and needs of customers is required.

  Second, human specialists are capable of creative thinking and innovation. Their ability to generate original ideas and find innovative solutions to problems cannot be fully replicated by AI, which, although it can analyze data and identify patterns, is limited in its ability to think outside the box.

  A third important aspect is the experience and intuition that a person develops throughout life. These qualities allow specialists to make decisions in complex situations based not only on facts but also on personal experience and intuitive feelings.

  Furthermore, human interactions with other people are often more flexible and adaptive. Specialists can quickly adapt to changing conditions and take into account the context, making their actions more effective in a dynamic environment.

  Finally, many professions require physical presence and manual labor, where AI cannot replace human work. For example, in construction, maintenance, or medical procedures, personal contact and physical manipulation remain indispensable.

  Thus, despite significant advances in technology, human professionals still possess unique qualities that make them indispensable in a number of professional fields.

• Experts from various fields have varying opinions on artificial intelligence, depending on their professional context and personal experience. Technology experts, for example, emphasize the importance of AI in automating processes and increasing work efficiency. They note that such systems can process vast amounts of data, opening up new horizons for analysis and decision-making.

  On the other hand, ethicists express concern about the potential risks associated with the use of AI. They emphasize the need to develop clear moral norms and standards that will help avoid negative consequences, such as algorithmic bias or job loss.

  At the same time, medical experts view AI as a powerful tool that can improve the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Their opinion is based on the successful application of AI in medical image analysis and treatment outcome prediction.

  Psychologists and sociologists, studying the impact of AI on society, raise questions about human interaction with machines. They focus on how technology can change social structures and relationships between people.

  Thus, artificial intelligence generates a wide range of opinions and discussions, covering both positive and negative aspects of its implementation in various areas of life.

• To successfully compete with artificial intelligence, it is necessary to develop certain skills. First and foremost, this is creativity, since the ability to generate original ideas and unconventional solutions remains the prerogative of humans. Emotional intelligence also plays an important role, allowing us to establish deep connections with others and understand their feelings.

  Furthermore, critical thinking is a necessary skill that helps us analyze information and make informed decisions. The ability to adapt to change and quickly learn new technologies will also become an advantage in the face of rapid AI development.

  Finally, interpersonal communication and collaboration skills will be in demand, as working in teams using technology requires effective communication. All of these qualities will help humans stand out from machines and secure a competitive advantage in the future.

High-Risk Jobs

In recent years, artificial intelligence has developed significantly and is now able to perform certain tasks better than humans. Because of this, in some areas, AI may significantly reduce the need for skilled professionals.

Specialists from Microsoft Research analyzed 200,000 user interactions with the Bing Copilot assistant to determine which work tasks users most often delegate to artificial intelligence and how effectively it performs them. The results of this study helped the authors gain insight into which professions could either disappear or undergo significant changes as a result of AI implementation. At risk are professionals whose activities involve searching for and processing information, creating and editing texts, providing assistance and support, teaching, and consulting. As a result of the study, 40 professions were identified that fall into this category, including:

• translators;
• sales specialists
• writers;
• technical support staff;
• telemarketers;
• journalists;
• PR specialists;
• teachers;
• data scientists;
• web developers;
• personal finance specialists.

Today, some companies are beginning to integrate artificial intelligence into their operational processes. Large corporations with sufficient resources and modern technologies are especially active in this. For example, at Google, about half of all software code is already created using AI.

At the same time, large technology companies are openly declaring their readiness for significant changes. For example, in July 2025, Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank, announced his intention to completely eliminate the use of developers. He envisioned this role being filled by "astonishingly inexpensive" AI agents. Amazon has also announced a similar strategy, planning to gradually reduce its headcount as it increasingly integrates AI into its business processes. Programmers, managers, and HR specialists are among those who may lose their jobs.

A specialist in the field of neural network technologies and a lecturer on the course "Neural Networks. "Practical Course" from Skillbox.

Artificial intelligence surpasses humans in the speed of task completion. It can quickly type text and transcribe text, taking into account punctuation and semantic pauses. What might take a person an hour, AI completes in just a few minutes.

Furthermore, it supports the initial stages of task completion. For example, if research is required, a neural network can suggest a plan, structure, and various data collection methods. This saves resources, and frees up human energy for more complex and time-consuming tasks.

It handles foreign languages ​​quite well—though not at a native level, it can translate a sign or hold a conversation while traveling.

Furthermore, the neural network can act as a coach, encouraging thought, asking provocative questions, and maintaining a conversation. This is especially effective when the system is tailored to a specific user.

A specialist in the field of neural networks, speaking as a lecturer on the Skillbox course called "Practical Course on "[...] neural networks."

Artificial intelligence is already clearly outperforming humans in the speed of task completion. It can type text significantly faster, as well as transcribe, taking into account punctuation and semantic pauses. What takes a person an hour, becomes possible for AI in just a few minutes.

Furthermore, it proves useful at the initial stages of a project: for example, if research is required, a neural network can suggest a scheme, structure, and various methods for collecting information. This allows resources to be saved, and human efforts can be concentrated on more complex tasks.

It copes quite well with languages ​​- although not at the level of a native speaker, it can translate a sign or maintain a conversation while traveling.

Furthermore, a neural network can act as a coach, encouraging a person to think, asking provocative questions, and maintaining a conversation. This is especially effective if the system is adapted to the individual needs of the user.

List of layoffs caused by the implementation of artificial intelligence

According to information provided by the World Economic Forum, 41% of companies intend to reduce the number of their employees, transferring their duties to artificial intelligence. This process is already actively developing outside our region.

According to a study by FinalRoundAI, in the first half of 2025, leading IT corporations in the United States cut 94 thousand jobs. Among the companies that made the largest number of layoffs were Microsoft, IBM, Intel and Google.

Some employees were laid off because artificial intelligence began to perform their duties more quickly and cost-effectively. Other workers were laid off in order to free up funds for further investment in the development of artificial intelligence technologies. Here are the categories of employees that were first on the list of layoffs of tech giants:

• mainly entry-level programmers;
• HR specialists;
• technical support staff;
• copywriters;
• data analysts;
• mid-level managers.

However, the impact of artificial intelligence on the labor market is felt not only in the field of information technology. For example, in Sydney, clinic administrators had to leave their positions, as their functions were transferred to an AI system, which is now responsible for sending messages to patients and managing phone calls.

The development of technology negatively affects creative professions too. Annabel Beals, a copywriter from the UK, previously wrote articles for a specialized gardening magazine. However, over time, the number of orders she received began to decline, and soon she began receiving ready-made texts created by artificial intelligence for editing. As a result, she was fired—it turned out that ChatGPT was successfully performing the same tasks she was doing.

Graphic designer Jadun Sykes shared his story of how he was among those laid off after his employer trained artificial intelligence based on his own creations. Sykes worked for the company for six years, but when the AI ​​began generating similar designs, his services became redundant.

The Russian IT industry, like other countries, is experiencing waves of layoffs. For example, in early 2025, large numbers of layoffs among IT workers were reported at companies such as Cooper, MegaMarket, Sberlogistics, and Samokat, which are part of the Sber ecosystem. However, at this point, no one is linking these changes to the direct influence of artificial intelligence.

As artificial intelligence's potential grows, programmers are increasingly discussing the possibility of it completely replacing humans in their profession. Articles and discussions on this topic are regularly published on the Habr platform. Some experts believe that algorithms are only capable of handling simple and routine tasks, while more complex issues still require human intervention. At the same time, there is an opinion that automation can affect even highly qualified specialists.

Questions related to Artificial intelligence concerns not only software developers; changes in the market are also noticeable for specialists in creative professions. Despite the absence of resonant news about AI replacing people in the Russian media, a decrease in demand for certain professions is already being observed. The situation is least favorable for authors and editors working on platforms with low royalties, as reported by Kommersant. At the same time, some specialists in content marketing, content management, and copywriting have been able to increase their income thanks to the implementation of artificial intelligence.

Advantages of Human Experts over Artificial Intelligence

Despite significant progress in artificial intelligence, the most advanced algorithms are still unable to completely displace humans from various professions. Scientists from the United States and Austria analyzed this issue and concluded that the reason lies in the concept of skill nesting. High-level skills function only in conjunction with basic ones, not in isolation.

Researchers have concluded that professional skills form an interconnected structure, like the floors of a building, with some skills serving as the foundation for others. To successfully solve complex problems, it is not enough to simply master specific technical methods; it is also essential to possess a broad range of general skills, including logic, mathematics, communication skills, as well as the ability to analyze risks and act under uncertainty. These multi-level skills are difficult to formalize, and it is they that currently provide people with protection from being replaced by artificial intelligence.

Director of the company "Alliance of Advanced Technologies"

Human While both reason and artificial intelligence have neural connections, there is a fundamental difference. An artificial neural network is trained on strictly defined and often "clean" data. In contrast, the human mind functions as a "neural network" that constantly acquires new knowledge from the real world: through physical experience, emotional experiences, mistakes, and intuitive insights. Research on the hierarchy of skills shows that human experience forms an extremely complex knowledge structure that cannot be recreated digitally.

Artificial intelligence faces difficulties in integrating different skill levels and developing them in a manner similar to the human approach. As a result, it often has trouble interpreting context, be it cultural, professional, or corporate. This is especially noticeable in cases where knowledge can be obtained solely through personal experience.

Specialist in the field of communication design and neural network technologies, head of creative design in the central marketing department VK.

The author uses specific jargon specific to a particular region, but artificial intelligence will not be able to detect information about these expressions online. There are terms that are popular among young people, especially on TikTok; they are currently being actively incorporated into advertising and TV series. However, to become familiar with these words, personal interaction with the relevant materials is necessary, as information about them is not available online.

Developers face a similar situation: when you join a team, you're often faced with code consisting of various parts written in different programming languages. They often use temporary solutions that are understandable only to those who originally developed them. Information about such approaches is difficult to find online, as they are typically developed internally by a specific company.

Artificial intelligence, like a horse harnessed with blinders, has limited perception. It can only function within predetermined conditions, but is unable to see the full picture without human assistance.

Artificial intelligence operates within strictly defined boundaries and is unable to independently set goals or formulate long-term strategies that take into account ethical, cultural, and market considerations. Moreover, it is unable to make decisions in conditions of complete uncertainty, when there is no data for analysis, explains Ignat Ushev, Director of the Product Portfolio at NeuroCore.

Another limiting feature of artificial intelligence is its inability to display emotional intelligence and empathy. Although machines can reproduce emotions, they are unable to experience real feelings, which makes them ineffective in building trusting bonds with clients or in managing teams where complex interpersonal interactions are important, notes Ignat.

Experts from Various Fields on the Role of Artificial Intelligence

We reached out to experts from various fields to ask about their attitudes toward artificial intelligence. We were interested in whether they use AI in their professional activities and how this happens. We sought to obtain the opinions of both ordinary employees and executives to gain a multifaceted understanding of how AI technologies impact business and its stakeholders. This material presents their answers.

A senior copywriter works at Sovcombank.

At Sovcombank, where I currently work, as in most Fintech companies are actively pursuing artificial intelligence. This also applies to our editorial team, which handles writing.

My colleagues and I are confident that neural networks can be relied upon when it comes to creating an outline or draft of an article, but it's still necessary to revise the text yourself. Furthermore, it's crucial to carefully verify the facts suggested by the neural network. I've repeatedly encountered situations where ChatGPT and DeepSeek fabricated information, embellished details, or cited sources that weren't relevant to my topic.

It's unlikely that artificial intelligence will be able to completely replace talented writers or significantly impact their earnings. However, it will serve as a valuable tool and assistant for authors, whose skills are becoming increasingly necessary (and already in demand) when looking for work.

Art Director, Conceptual Artist concept.

— Artificial intelligence helps me gather inspiration, determine a direction for my work, and organize my ideas. It also allows me to view a task from different angles and quickly make adjustments to the image.

The question of whether artificial intelligence will be able to replace some specialists remains open. Three years ago, many were worried that such a replacement would happen soon. However, over time, it has become clear that neural networks are not capable of completely replacing humans, especially in areas that require high professional skills.

People whose work involves solving technical problems may face certain difficulties. For example, if you are excellent at hammering nails into a board, but suddenly a competitor appears in the form of an air gun, this can create difficulties. However, if your job involves building houses and not just hammering nails, you can rise to the challenge.

Creative director and co-founder of the Sensesay agency, developer of creative strategies for such Brands such as Coca-Cola, Sprite, Sauza, Danone, Mercedes-Benz, Beeline, BelkaCar, VTB, Alfa-Bank, Yandex, and Netology.

Neural networks are great at performing routine tasks, but their work isn't limited to them. Artificial intelligence isn't yet capable of being late for meetings, gracefully procrastinating, or sending memes to chat.

It's possible to replace interns with neural networks, but we don't have any. However, it's entirely possible to reduce the workload on the team. Artificial intelligence successfully handles tasks related to selecting references, creating initial slogans, and mood boards. However, creating a high-quality slide that could replace ten ordinary ones still requires human involvement.

We've perfected the "doubt and suffering" phase. Now we question the capabilities of AI, not our own abilities—and that brings satisfaction. We use ChatGPT and Midjourney to test hypotheses, create drafts, and visual concepts. This approach significantly speeds up the workflow and reduces the effort required by designers.

I have respect for artificial intelligence. It's a truly useful tool that can make our lives much easier, but it's not yet ready for communicating with clients and making final decisions. AI takes over routine tasks, allowing us to focus on the more creative aspects of our work. The volume of tasks won't decrease, but they will become more engaging.

Artificial intelligence will only take jobs from those who follow strict instructions. People with critical thinking, humor, and creativity will remain in demand. Let machines perform the tasks we typically avoid, and we will focus on the rest of our activities.

Head of Human Resources, SDM Bank

Artificial intelligence is capable of performing routine and repetitive tasks that are easily automated. Such tasks include, for example, data processing, document management, technical support, statistics, and the diagnostics and evaluation of certain algorithms. In the banking sector, this primarily affects entry-level workers, such as call center employees, database operators, accountants, analysts, and, to some extent, translators, contract lawyers, cashiers, and support and quality control specialists.

At our organization, we are actively optimizing document management, information processing, and technical support processes. These measures help increase our productivity and reduce the workload on employees.

I see artificial intelligence not as a replacement, but as a means of freeing up time for more meaningful activities: creating strategies, improving service quality, and pursuing personal and professional development. With the constant development of its intellect, artificial intelligence will never be able to completely replace it.

A senior copywriter works at Sovcombank.

At Sovcombank, where I I'm currently working at a company like most fintech companies, where artificial intelligence is rapidly developing. This includes our editorial team.

My colleagues and I are convinced that neural networks can be useful when creating an outline or draft of an article, but the final revision should still be done independently. Furthermore, it's crucial to carefully verify all facts suggested by a neural network. I've repeatedly encountered situations where ChatGPT and DeepSeek fabricated information, added unnecessary details, or cited sources that weren't relevant to my topic.

It's unlikely that artificial intelligence will be able to completely replace talented writers or significantly impact their salaries. However, it will certainly become a valuable tool and assistant for authors, and knowledge of its capabilities is already an important requirement when looking for a job.

Concept artist, Art Director

Artificial intelligence helps me select references, formulate a clear direction, and organize my thoughts. It also allows me to view a task from different angles and quickly make the necessary adjustments to the image.

It's uncertain whether artificial intelligence will be able to replace some professions. Three years ago, many expressed concerns that this could happen soon. However, reality has shown that neural networks are not capable of completely displacing humans, especially in areas that require high qualifications and complex skills.

People involved in technical tasks sometimes face certain difficulties. For example, if you're excellent at hammering nails into wood, but a new competitor, an air gun, appears on the market, this may cause some problems. However, if your activity involves not only hammering nails but also building houses in general, then you'll still come out on top.

Creative director and co-founder of the Sensesay agency, developer of creative strategies for such brands as Coca-Cola, Sprite, Sauza, Danone, Mercedes-Benz, Beeline, BelkaCar, VTB, Alfa-Bank, Yandex, and Netology.

Neural networks are excellent at handling routine tasks, but work involves more than just monotonous actions. Artificial intelligence isn't yet capable of being late for meetings, gracefully lazing around, or sharing memes in chat.

Interns could be replaced with neural networks, but we don't have any. However, it's entirely possible to reduce the team's workload. Artificial intelligence is excellent at finding references and creating initial slogans and mood boards. However, creating a high-quality slide instead of ten ordinary ones remains a task only humans can handle.

We've improved the "torment and uncertainty" stage. Now, instead of doubting our own abilities, we begin to distrust artificial intelligence, and this brings positive feelings. We use ChatGPT and Midjourney as tools for testing hypotheses, creating drafts, and creating visual materials. This allows us to significantly speed up work and reduce the energy expenditure of designers.

I have respect for artificial intelligence. It is truly a wonderful assistant, but it is not yet ready for conducting meetings with clients and making final decisions. AI takes over routine tasks, allowing us to focus on creative aspects. The volume of work will not decrease – it will become more exciting.

Artificial intelligence will only displace those specialists who follow strict instructions. People capable of doubt, humor, and a creative approach will remain in demand. Let technology perform routine tasks that we do not like. We will focus on more important and interesting aspects of work.

Key Skills for Successfully Competing with Artificial Intelligence

To avoid the risks of workforce reduction due to the implementation of artificial intelligence, there are three main strategies: develop new skills, change your career direction, or switch to AI-related specialties. Let's look at each of these options in more detail.

Neural networks can handle basic tasks, but they cannot yet completely replace a qualified professional. Therefore, to remain competitive in the face of the development of artificial intelligence, authors, designers, and developers must continue to improve in their field and enhance their skills.

Social media specialist, who is also the founder of a digital agency.

I am confident that in the future, artificial intelligence will replace specialists without high skills in the market. However, experienced professionals, especially those in mid- and high-level positions, will find themselves in an advantageous position. Artificial intelligence will become a powerful tool for them, helping to bring their ideas to life, freeing them from routine tasks, and speeding up work processes.

First of all, artificial intelligence will affect those professions that do not require a high degree of creativity or a deep understanding of the subject. However, if you have at least basic knowledge in your field, there is no need to worry. On the contrary, now is the perfect time to explore these technologies: they will help improve financial performance and enhance professional skills.

Another option is to change professions to one where artificial intelligence has not yet demonstrated high effectiveness. For example, psychology. Recently, a psychiatrist in the US conducted an interesting experiment in which he interacted with a chatbot, representing a teenager. At some point, the AI ​​began giving advice that violated the law. Although neural networks are capable of imitating empathy, the profession of a psychologist involves not only providing emotional support but also such important aspects as debunking cognitive biases and working with trauma. For this, simply friendly participation is not enough.

A specialist in the field of clinical psychology with an emphasis on psychoanalytic approaches.

A real psychologist perceives not only spoken words, but also pauses, intonations, as well as non-verbal cues. Their reaction occurs on an internal, emotional level. This subjectivity becomes a unique tool that cannot be reproduced. Moreover, the fact that a psychologist is a living person implies boundaries, interruptions, and limitations. All this triggers important therapeutic mechanisms: confronting anxiety, jealousy, anger due to the imperfections of another person, and a feeling of abandonment. These emotional reactions contribute to the creation of a living connection. It is within this connection that a person finds new life.

Any real relationship involves mutual movement, commitment, and openness. These aspects imbue the interaction with vitality, something that, unfortunately, artificial intelligence lacks.

It is also worth noting that artificial intelligence still depends on a human, who acts as a mentor and assistant. It must be trained, supervised, and corrected. In this regard, many large companies are creating positions for AI trainers - professionals whose task is to help improve neural networks.

In the United States, despite the fact that Amazon is conducting staff reductions, it offers its employees the opportunity to master a new profession in the field of artificial intelligence. Employees can become familiar with modern AI tools and participate in the optimization of business processes. For this purpose, the company has developed an internal training system that helps employees develop new skills.

Key aspects of artificial intelligence in four points

• Artificial intelligence is already having a significant impact on the labor market. Organizations around the world are rapidly integrating AI technologies to optimize costs and accelerate work processes. Particularly obvious transformations are observed in the field of information technology and content production.
• Artificial intelligence demonstrates outstanding abilities in the field of analysis, processing large-scale data, generating ideas, and performing everyday tasks. However, it lacks emotional intelligence, communication skills, and cultural understanding. These qualities are often necessary for successful problem-solving.
• A person's core strength is the ability to integrate diverse types of knowledge, adapt to the environment, and function effectively in unfamiliar circumstances. In contrast, artificial intelligence learns from a limited amount of information.
• Experts from various fields emphasize that artificial intelligence should be viewed as a tool, not a threat. Mastering neural network skills and combining them with personal competencies will be a key factor in maintaining competitiveness in the AI ​​era.

Additional resources from Skillbox Media on artificial intelligence.

• Artificial intelligence in commerce: why its implementation has become essential for most organizations.
• Not embarrassment, but admiration: how companies can develop effective AI-powered advertising that attracts attention, not irritates.
• GEO may be our only way out in the face of the dominance of AI search technologies. We discuss this topic with professionals in the field.
• Digital disaster: how attackers can use deepfakes to undermine companies' reputations.
• The threat to Agile posed by remote work and AI is not as great as it may seem. Instead, we may be witnessing the emergence of a new era that could be called post-Agile.