AI and machines: deciphering tomorrow’s jobs

Artificial intelligence and intelligent machines are no longer futuristic concepts, but a reality that is profoundly reshaping the professional landscape. As algorithms take over repetitive or analytical tasks, a crucial question emerges: which professions will survive, which will evolve, and what new opportunities will emerge?

Contrary to fears of a mass disappearance of jobs, experts agree on one thing: AI doesn’t just replace, it transforms. Purely technical skills are gradually giving way to profoundly human qualities – creativity, empathy, adaptability – while new professions are emerging at the crossroads of technology and societal needs. Between automation, reinvention of roles and the emergence of new professions, the job market is undergoing unprecedented change. How can we prepare? What levers should we pull to stay relevant? Let’s delve into the trends shaping tomorrow’s professions.

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Artificial intelligence and automation are profoundly reshaping the professional landscape, transforming existing professions while spawning new ones. While certain sectors, such as banking or accounting, are seeing their repetitive tasks taken over by algorithms, other fields, such ashuman support, creativity or the management of ecological transitions, are gaining in importance. This does not mean that jobs are disappearing en masse, but rather that the skills required are changing, with soft skills – such as empathy, critical thinking and adaptability – becoming major assets. How can we anticipate these changes and prepare for a job market in the midst of a technological and human revolution?

AI as a gas pedal of humanity at work

Contrary to the fears often expressed, the rise of artificial intelligence may well make us more human in our approach to business. As Susan Price, digital architect at Anaconda Inc. points out, machines excel at logical, analytical or repetitive tasks, such as data processing or IT process management. On the other hand, they struggle to reproduce intrinsically human qualities: emotional intelligence, creativity, ethical judgment and the ability to inspire and unite.

This complementarity between AI and human skills paves the way for a revaluation of human-centered professions. Professions requiring empathy – such as assistant site managers, educators or medical care – as well as those requiring innovative thinking (design, strategy, art) are becoming indispensable mainstays. AI, by taking over the technical aspects, frees up time for what makes human interaction so rich: listening, advising, innovating.

Machines for tasks, humans for meaning

Automation doesn’t just replace jobs: it reconfigures professions. For example, an accountant won’t disappear, but his or her role will evolve towardsstrategic analysis and consulting, while software will handle the basic calculations. Similarly, a coworking space manager will have to focus more onanimating communities and creating collaborative experiences, rather than on logistics, optimized by digital tools.

This transition calls for a rethinking of traditional training methods. Education systems, often still rooted in the transmission of static knowledge, must now give priority to continuous learning, intellectual curiosity and the ability to solve complex problems. Tomorrow’s jobs will not be purely technical; they will require a hybridization of skills, combining sector expertise and behavioral agility.

What professions will emerge in the future?

While some jobs are set to decline, others, as yet non-existent, will emerge. According to the think tank The Institute For The Future, almost 80% of today’s students will be working in professions that don’t yet exist. These new professions will be structured around three main areas: technology, ecology and human support.

Jobs related to technology and AI

The rise of immersive and intelligent technologies will give rise to professions such as :

• Augmented reality architect: design virtual environments for training, commerce or urban planning.
• Robot educator: train machines to interact naturally with humans, particularly in the healthcare and service sectors.
• Cyber-city analyst: optimizing smart city management (mobility, energy, security) thanks to AI. Find out more about cybersecurity issues, a key area for these professions.
• Specialist in algorithmic ethics: ensuring that AI systems respect human values and avoid discriminatory bias.

These professions will require a dual skill set: technical mastery (programming, data science) and sensitivity to societal issues. For example, a web developer will also need to understand the ethical implications of his creations, while a data scientist will need to know how to translate data into accessible narratives.

Green and sustainable jobs

The ecological transition is another source of future jobs:

• Urban farmer: growing food in urban environments via vertical farms or connected greenhouses.
• Circular economy consultant: helping companies reduce waste and optimize resources.
• Biodiversity manager: restoring and protecting ecosystems in urban or industrial areas.
• Renewable energy expert: design and maintain solar, wind and hydrogen infrastructures.

These professions will not be limited to technical aspects. They will also incorporate an educational and social dimension, such as raising public awareness of climate issues or supporting local authorities in their transition.

Human and social professions

In an increasingly digitalized world, human-centered professions will take center stage:

• Professional resilience coach: helping employees manage stress and career transitions in a changing environment.
• Inclusion facilitator: creating accessible and equitable workspaces, taking into account cultural and cognitive diversity.
• Accompanying seniors: meeting the needs of an aging population, whether in terms of health, housing or social ties.
• Digital mediator: training in the use of technological tools for people who are far removed from the digital world (the elderly, the underprivileged).

These professions require qualities such as active listening, patience and adaptability – skills that are difficult to automate. For example, an assistant site manager in Lyon or Rennes will need to combine operational management with the creation of collective dynamics, a key balance for hybrid workspaces.

Which professions are under threat, and how can they be reinvented?

While AI and automation are transforming many sectors, some professions are particularly at risk. According to theSapiens Institute, five occupational families could disappear by 2050:

• Bank and insurance employees (2038-2051): replaced by management algorithms and chatbots.
• Accountants (2041-2056): the AI will be responsible for entering and analyzing financial data.
• Secretaries and administrative assistants (2053-2072): planning and automated drafting tools will reduce their role.
• Cashiers and self-service staff (2050-2066): unmanned stores and automatic payments become widespread.
• Material handlers (2071-2091): robots and exoskeletons will replace arduous physical tasks.

However, no profession is doomed to disappear entirely. Every profession contains transferable skills that can be retrained. For example:

• An accountant may move intostrategic auditing or risk management consulting.
• A cashier can be trained inpremium customer service or intelligent inventory management.
• A secretary can become an assistant manager, specializing in team leadership or project coordination.

Professions that are resisting (and why)

Some sectors remain relatively immune to automation, as they rely on irreplaceable human skills:

• Health and care: nurses, care assistants, psychologists – AI can assist, but not replace human empathy and touch.
• Crafts and manual trades: roofers, plasterers, cabinetmakers – complex, non-standardized physical tasks resist robotization.
• Education and training: teachers, trainers – the transmission of knowledge and the pedagogical relationship remain human.
• Creation and art: designers, musicians, writers – pure creativity is difficult to reproduce with algorithms.

A study by Microsoft (2025) confirms this trend: the professions least impacted by AI are those that combine physical action and social interaction, such as home carers or socio-cultural animators. On the other hand, professions where AI can provide effective assistance (translation, writing, data analysis) will be profoundly altered, but not necessarily eliminated.

Key skills for adaptation: soft skills and hybridization

In a changing job market, hard skills are no longer enough. Soft skills, or behavioral competencies, are becoming essential for :

• Navigating uncertainty: adapting to constantly evolving tools and methods.
• Collaborate effectively: work in multidisciplinary teams, often remotely.
• Innovate and solve problems: think creatively to meet new challenges.
• Communicate clearly: explain complex concepts, negotiate, convince.

A study by Burning Glass reveals that employees who master both technical and soft skills (such as a marketer with knowledge of SQL language) see their salaries rise by an average of 30%. This hybridization of knowledge has become a major recruitment criterion.

The soft skills most in demand in 2025

According to reports by the Pew Research Center and theOECD, these are the qualities that will make the difference:

• Curiosity and continuous learning: the ability to learn continuously, via MOOCs, certifications or field experience.
• Emotional intelligence: understand your own emotions and those of others to collaborate more effectively.
• Intercultural sensitivity: working in multicultural environments is a key challenge for managers.
• Resilience: bouncing back after failure or professional transition.
• Ethics and critical thinking: question the impact of your work, particularly in the tech and data fields.

These skills are not acquired through training alone. They are also developed through experience (international mobility, cross-functional projects) and self-reflection (skills assessments, mentoring). Coworking spaces, for example, encourage this informal learning by networking professionals from different backgrounds.

The end of hyper-specialization?

Sociologist Zygmunt Bauman describes our era as one of “liquid modernity”, in which stable structures (such as linear careers) give way to flexibility. In this context, hyper-specialization becomes a risk: an expert in a narrow field may find himself obsolete if his skill is automated.

Conversely, “T” profiles (in-depth expertise in one field + cross-disciplinary skills) or “pi” profiles (several complementary areas of expertise) are increasingly valued. For example:

• A web developer who also masters UX design and project management.
• A salesperson capable of analyzing customer data (using tools like Power BI) and creating marketing content.
• An engineer trained in social mediation to manage diverse teams.

Companies, for their part, will have to rethink their talent management. HR departments will no longer recruit solely on the basis of diplomas or years of experience, but on the basis of adaptability and interpersonal skills. Careers such as “Head of Employee Experience” or “Organizational Psychologist” are emerging to support this transition.

How can you prepare for the jobs of tomorrow?

In the face of these upheavals, there are three ways to secure your employability:

1. Continuous training: acquire new skills, particularly in digital and AI, via short, targeted training courses (e.g. certifications in data analysis, agile project management).
2. Expand your network: opportunities often arise through informal encounters, hence the interest in collaborative spaces such as coworking areas.
3. Dare to be mobile: change sector, position or even country to broaden your horizons and increase your adaptability.

Preferred training courses

To stay competitive, here are the areas to invest in:

• Digital skills: proficiency in generative AI tools (such as Copilot or MidJourney), programming basics (Python, SQL), cybersecurity.
• Project management: agile methods (Scrum, Kanban), budget management, leadership.
• Communication and storytelling: knowing how to present ideas in a clear and engaging way, an asset for all professions.
• Sustainable development: understanding CSR issues and environmental regulations, a must for sectors in transition.

Online platforms (Coursera, OpenClassrooms, Udemy) offer tailored courses, often eligible for CPF. What’s more, companies have every interest in training their employees in-house to avoid skills shortages. According to a Deloitte study, 69% of Millennials stay more than 5 years with a company that invests in their development.

Pitfalls to avoid

In this period of transition, certain mistakes can put the brakes on a career:

• Neglecting soft skills: even with cutting-edge technical expertise, a lack of empathy or communication skills can hold you back.
• Staying in your comfort zone: refusing to train in new tools (such as AI) or change your working methods.
• Underestimating the importance of networking: recruitment is increasingly done via recommendations or collaborative platforms.
• Ignore the signs of transformation in your sector: for example, a journalist who hasn’t mastered the tools of data-journalism or SEO will fall behind.

Finally, it’s crucial to keep a critical eye on alarmist or, conversely, over-optimistic rhetoric. AI will not eliminate all jobs, but it will transform their nature. Those who know how to combine technical skills, behavioral agility and ethical vision will be best equipped to thrive in this new professional world.

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