Will AI replace Biochemists and Biophysicists?

AI can do 60% of the work Biochemists and Biophysicists do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 2 of their 24 tasks, while 14 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 4 physical tasks. 4 still need a person.

AI is already doing this2 · 9% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Prepare reports or recommendations, based upon research outcomes.Mostly automated6% of time
  • Study the mutations in organisms that lead to cancer or other diseases.Mostly automated3% of time

AI could do this next14 · 51% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • Share research findings by writing scientific articles or by making presentations at scientific conferences.10% of time
  • Write grant proposals to obtain funding for research.7% of time
  • Study the chemistry of living processes, such as cell development, breathing and digestion, or living energy changes, such as growth, aging, or death.6% of time
  • Research the chemical effects of substances, such as drugs, serums, hormones, or food, on tissues or vital processes.4% of time
  • Develop or execute tests to detect diseases, genetic disorders, or other abnormalities.3% of time
  • Develop or test new drugs or medications intended for commercial distribution.3% of time
  • Investigate the nature, composition, or expression of genes or research how genetic engineering can impact these processes.3% of time
  • Study physical principles of living cells or organisms and their electrical or mechanical energy, applying methods and knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, or biology.3% of time
  • Study spatial configurations of submicroscopic molecules, such as proteins, using x-rays or electron microscopes.2% of time
  • Determine the three-dimensional structure of biological macromolecules.2% of time
  • Develop methods to process, store, or use foods, drugs, or chemical compounds.2% of time
  • Examine the molecular or chemical aspects of immune system functioning.2% of time
  • Research how characteristics of plants or animals are carried through successive generations.1% of time
  • Research transformations of substances in cells, using atomic isotopes.1% of time

Robots can technically do this4 · 19% of time

Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.

  • Design or perform experiments with equipment, such as lasers, accelerators, or mass spectrometers.Robots: purpose built settings12% of time
  • Isolate, analyze, or synthesize vitamins, hormones, allergens, minerals, or enzymes and determine their effects on body functions.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Produce pharmaceutically or industrially useful proteins, using recombinant DNA technology.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Prepare pharmaceutical compounds for commercial distribution.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time

Still needs a person4 · 21% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Teach or advise undergraduate or graduate students or supervise their research.8% of time
  • Manage laboratory teams or monitor the quality of a team's work.7% of time
  • Develop new methods to study the mechanisms of biological processes.6% of time
  • Design or build laboratory equipment needed for special research projects.1% of time

Your week is not the average

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What this means

AI can do most of this work faster, but a real part of the job still needs a person. Real use is still behind at 8 out of 100, so the change here is only getting started. The people who learn which tasks to hand off will pull ahead.

What to do next

  • Do the 2 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
  • Get ahead on the 14 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Keep an eye on the 4 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 4 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Microbiologists61%Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists68%Bioinformatics Scientists98%Molecular and Cellular Biologists68%Geneticists75%Biologists52%

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