Will AI replace Photonics Engineers?
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 26 O*NET tasks published in 2023 and calibrated to our hand scores. A specialty inside it can sit higher or lower.
O*NET-SOC 17-2199.07 · Architecture and Engineering
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: 6 of its 26 rated tasks. In O*NET’s words.
- Create or maintain photonic design histories.
- Document photonics system or component design processes, including objectives, issues, or outcomes.
- Write reports or proposals related to photonics research or development projects.
- Design or redesign optical fibers to minimize energy loss.
- Design laser machining equipment for purposes such as high-speed ablation.
- Design or develop new crystals for photonics applications.
Tasks rated in 2023 as not sped up by AI
Tasks such a model was rated as not speeding up or taking over: 6 of its 26 rated tasks. In O*NET’s words.
- Develop or test photonic prototypes or models.
- Analyze, fabricate, or test fiber-optic links.
- Design, integrate, or test photonics systems or components.
- Oversee or provide expertise on manufacturing, assembly, or fabrication processes.
- Train operators, engineers, or other personnel.
- Select, purchase, set up, operate, or troubleshoot state-of-the-art laser cutting equipment.
What the job is
Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.
Also called: Optical Engineer, Optical Design Engineer, Optical Systems Engineer, Optics Engineer, Optical Specialist, Algorithm Developer, Fiber Optics Engineer, Optical Test Engineer.
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