Generative AI poised to automate over 80% of tasks in nearly a third of all jobs, overhauling sectors from finance to creative industries

Nearly one third of all jobs are poised to be fundamentally transformed by generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), according to a new study by global strategic consultancy Sia Partners.

The study reveals that more than 80% of tasks in these roles are primed for automation, driven by the rapid expansion of Large Language Models (LLMs) and GenAI technologies, signalling a major shift in how work will be performed.

The study,  titled AI OrgReview: Assessment of the Potential Impact of Generative AI on the Workforce, analysed a range of jobs across sectors like hospitality, healthcare, engineering, manufacturing, legal, education, finance and the creative industries. It found that roles particularly in  tax, web administration, IT and digital design are highly exposed to the impact of GenAI.

The study highlights the potential of GenAI to both enhance productivity and transform job roles across various sectors, while at the same time reshaping the workforce and our understanding of work itself.

Varied Impact

The study utilised Sia Partners newly developed AI OrgReview tool to analyse 50 occupations, scanning 1,000 work-related tasks or activities. The model’s accuracy was validated by the company’s GenAI experts and found to be over 90% accurate.

The findings revealed widespread impacts of GenAI across all the reviewed occupations, with 41% to 46% of work tasks being susceptible to GenAI influence. However, the level of impact varied: while 80% of roles were affected to some extent, 28% are expected to experience more significant disruption.

Lawrence Vesey, Partner for Ireland & UK at Sia Partners said: “The findings point to the remarkable opportunities AI can offer in terms of productivity enhanced efficiency. As pioneers in this space, Sia Partners is at the forefront of helping organisations integrate these technologies in a way that prioritises people and strategy.

“We’re committed to delivering innovative solutions that will guide leaders through this technological evolution with optimism and clarity.  This will support organisations to manage change arising, and take care of wider stakeholder concerns in a fair and ethical way.”

Co-author of the study, Christian Howieson, Engagement Manager for Ireland and the UK at Sia Partners, said:  “The study  highlights the significant efficiency improvements and edge that early adopters of GenAI can attain. However, organisational planning and design methods need to evolve to ensure these technologies are implemented thoughtfully, with a necessary focus on people.”

Andrei Pascanean, co-author of the study and Senior Consultant Data Science at Sia Partners, said: “The key insights of this study highlight the transformative potential of GenAI, demonstrating the benefits it offers and the challenges it poses, while emphasising the need for strategic planning and thoughtful implementation.”

AI OrgReview, developed by Sia Partners, enables organisations to quickly assess the potential impact of GenAI technologies, such as LLMs and Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPTs), on their workforce.

It combines a model built within SiaGPT’s technology suite with a consulting framework that helps organisations navigate the complexities of GenAI integration using their own data.

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