OpenAI's Deep Research: A New Era of Autonomous Content Synthesis
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This week, OpenAI launched its Deep Research feature, which leverages the company's latest model, o3, to synthesize content from across the web into a comprehensive and detailed report within minutes. This innovative feature stands as a powerful tool for workers, potentially saving them hours of manual research by completing tasks autonomously. However, the question arises: Can technology's underlying model replace human workers?
Can AI Replace Human Workers?
According to the new Deep Research feature, the answer is largely affirmative. Min Choi, an X user dedicated to sharing informational AI content, prompted Deep Research to "List 20 jobs that OpenAI o3 reasoning model will replace human with into a table format ordered by probability. Columns are Rank, Job, Why Better Than Human, Probability." The results, shared via an X post, have since garnered significant attention with 984,000 views.
After deep diving into 24 sources in just seven minutes, Deep Research generated a table listing job titles, providing explanations as to why an AI is more proficient than a human at those tasks, and estimating the probability of job replacement. Choi shared a link to the full interaction to let others explore the table in detail.
Jobs AI is Predicted to Replace
In sync with tax season, leading the replacement probability table was the role of "tax preparer" at a striking 98% probability of automation, which Deep Research deemed as "near-certain automation." The AI highlighted the advantages of AI-driven tax software, which processes tax rules and calculations faster than humans.
| Rank | Job | Why Better Than Human | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tax Preparer | Quickly processes tax rules and calculations | 98% |
| 2 | Data Entry Clerk | Accurate and fast data processing | 95% |
| 3 | Telemarketer | Consistent and patient sales pitches | 92% |
| 4 | Bookkeeper | Accurately manages financial records | 90% |
| 5 | Paralegal | Efficient legal research | 89% |
| 6 | Appointment Scheduler | Handles multiple schedules seamlessly | 88% |
| 7 | Virtual Assistant | Efficient multi-tasking | 87% |
| 8 | Transcriptionist | High accuracy and speed | 85% |
| 9 | Proofreader | Spotting errors quickly | 84% |
| 10 | Copywriter | Generates content rapidly | 83% |
| 11 | Customer Service Representative | Handles inquiries efficiently | 82% |
| 12 | Email Marketer | Customized and timely emails | 81% |
| 13 | Content Marketer | Creates and optimizes content efficiently | 80% |
| 14 | Social Media Manager | Fast and consistent updates | 78% |
| 15 | Translator | Accurate translations | 77% |
| 16 | Technical Support Analyst | Quick problem resolution | 76% |
| 17 | Recruiter | Efficient candidate screening | 75% |
| 18 | Market Research Analyst | In-depth data analysis | 74% |
| 19 | Travel Agent | Efficient booking and itinerary planning | 73% |
| 20 | Tutor | Personalized learning plans | 72% |
Underlying Theme: Technical Skills Over Soft Skills
All the jobs listed by Deep Research share a common theme: they primarily rely on technical skills that AI can perform efficiently and autonomously. For instance, AI can handle tasks like transcribing, translating, and proofreading with minimal human intervention. Furthermore, AI excels at analyzing large volumes of data, drawing insights, and performing actions based on its analysis, thereby threatening roles such as social media managers, recruiters, market research analysts, and more.
The Human Element: Why Jobs Aren't Completely Doomed
Despite these predictions, it is improbable that everyone in these professions will lose their jobs. Deep Research's analysis focuses on AI's ability to execute hard skills effectively. However, soft skills – like communication, critical thinking, conflict resolution, leadership, time management, and interpersonal capabilities – remain crucial to professional success and are areas where AI still falls short.
Moreover, widespread AI adoption faces several barriers. A recent Accenture report highlighted significant obstacles such as unclear ROI, infrastructure limitations, and disconnection from employees, which hinder the broad implementation of AI in business environments.
Accessing Deep Research
If you are interested in utilizing Deep Research, you will need to subscribe to the ChatGPT Pro plan, priced at $200 per month. This subscription offers various perks, including unlimited access to ChatGPT and Sora, and access to Operator, an AI agent that can perform basic web-based tasks like making reservations.
For those seeking more affordable options, Google provides a similar Deep Research feature to Gemini Advanced users via the Google One AI Premium plan for $20 per month. There is also an open-source alternative from Hugging Face, available for free demo use.
Conclusion
Artificial intelligence continues to evolve, bringing new tools like OpenAI's Deep Research that have the potential to reshape various industries. While AI's efficiency in executing technical tasks poses a threat to certain jobs, the irreplaceable value of human soft skills and the current limitations of AI adoption in organizations suggest that a balanced coexistence between humans and AI remains foreseeable in the near future.
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