Will AI replace Biologists?

AI can do 52% of the work Biologists do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 2 of their 21 tasks, while 9 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 4 physical tasks. 6 still need a person.

AI is already doing this2 · 6% of time

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

  • Study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and function.Mostly automated4% of time
  • Study aquatic plants and animals and environmental conditions affecting them, such as radioactivity or pollution.Mostly automated2% of time

AI could do this next9 · 46% of time

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

  • Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.14% of time
  • Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.11% of time
  • Plan and administer biological research programs for government, research firms, medical industries, or manufacturing firms.5% of time
  • Research environmental effects of present and potential uses of land and water areas, determining methods of improving environmental conditions or such outputs as crop yields.4% of time
  • Review reports and proposals, such as those relating to land use classifications and recreational development, for accuracy, adequacy, or adherence to policies, regulations, or scientific standards.4% of time
  • Write grant proposals to obtain funding for biological research.4% of time
  • Communicate test results to state and federal representatives and general public.2% of time
  • Prepare requests for proposals or statements of work.1% of time
  • Prepare plans for management of renewable resources.1% of time

Robots can technically do this4 · 27% 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.

  • Collect and analyze biological data about relationships among and between organisms and their environment.Robots: structured workplaces16% of time
  • Identify, classify, and study structure, behavior, ecology, physiology, nutrition, culture, and distribution of plant and animal species.Robots: purpose built settings7% of time
  • Study and manage wild animal populations.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Measure salinity, acidity, light, oxygen content, and other physical conditions of water to determine their relationship to aquatic life.Robots: structured workplaces1% of time

Still needs a person6 · 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.

  • Develop and maintain liaisons and effective working relations with groups and individuals, agencies, and the public to encourage cooperative management strategies or to develop information and interpret findings.7% of time
  • Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.6% of time
  • Teach or supervise students and perform research at universities and colleges.2% of time
  • Develop methods and apparatus for securing representative plant, animal, aquatic, or soil samples.2% of time
  • Represent employer in a technical capacity at conferences.1% of time
  • Develop pest management and control measures, and conduct risk assessments related to pest exclusion, using scientific methods.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 5 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 9 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 6 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Biochemists and Biophysicists60%Microbiologists61%Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists68%Bioinformatics Scientists98%Molecular and Cellular Biologists68%Geneticists75%

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