Will AI replace Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers?
Estimated risk score: 40 out of 100
Lower replacement risk
Estimate from published task research, not reviewed by a person · how we estimate
Within about 19 points for 4 in 5 of the jobs we checked (21 to 59).
For the occupation as a whole, from ratings of its 32 O*NET tasks published in 2023 and calibrated to our hand scores. A specialty inside it can sit higher or lower.
O*NET-SOC 51-9061.00 · Production
Tasks rated in 2023 as ones AI could do or speed up
Tasks a GPT-4-class model could do, or do in half the time or less: 9 of its 32 rated tasks; the first 6 are shown. In O*NET’s words.
- Compute defect percentages or averages, using formulas and calculators.
- Mark items with details, such as grade or acceptance-rejection status.
- Record inspection or test data, such as weights, temperatures, grades, or moisture content, and quantities inspected or graded.
- Write test or inspection reports describing results, recommendations, or needed repairs.
- Analyze test data, making computations as necessary, to determine test results.
- Compute usable amounts of items in shipments.
Tasks rated in 2023 as not sped up by AI
Tasks such a model was rated as not speeding up or taking over: 14 of its 32 rated tasks; the first 6 are shown. In O*NET’s words.
- Collect or select samples for testing or for use as models.
- Make minor adjustments to equipment, such as turning setscrews to calibrate instruments to required tolerances.
- Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
- Position products, components, or parts for testing.
- Remove defects, such as chips, burrs, or lap corroded or pitted surfaces.
- Stack or arrange tested products for further processing, shipping, or packaging.
What the job is
Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.
Also called: CWI, Passer, Taster, Classer, Sampler, Weigher, Measurer, QA Clerk.
Source. This site includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. (O*NET, CC BY 4.0.) Task ratings: Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock (2023), “GPTs are GPTs: An Early Look at the Labor Market Impact Potential of Large Language Models”, data used under the MIT licence (licence texts). Our change: we averaged the ratings over this occupation’s tasks and calibrated them to our 0–100 scale. It is not a prediction about any one person and not career advice. Disagree? Write to hello@yourstopwashit.com. How we estimate