Will AI replace Historians?
AI can do 66% of the work Historians do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 1 of their 21 tasks, while 13 more are ready but barely used so far. 7 still need a person.
AI is already doing this1 · 3% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Determine which topics to research, or pursue research topics specified by clients or employers.Mostly automated3% of time
AI could do this next13 · 64% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance.11% of time
- Conduct historical research, and publish or present findings and theories.10% of time
- Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.8% of time
- Research and prepare manuscripts in support of public programming and the development of exhibits at historic sites, museums, libraries, and archives.8% of time
- Prepare publications and exhibits, or review those prepared by others, to ensure their historical accuracy.5% of time
- Research the history of a particular country or region, or of a specific time period.5% of time
- Organize information for publication and for other means of dissemination, such as via storage media or the Internet.5% of time
- Present historical accounts in terms of individuals or social, ethnic, political, economic, or geographic groupings.4% of time
- Trace historical development in a particular field, such as social, cultural, political, or diplomatic history.3% of time
- Edit historical society publications.3% of time
- Translate or request translation of reference materials.1% of time
- Collect detailed information on individuals for use in biographies.1% of time
- Recommend actions related to historical art, such as which items to add to a collection or which items to display in an exhibit.1% of time
Still needs a person7 · 34% 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.
- Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals.14% of time
- Teach and conduct research in colleges, universities, museums, and other research agencies and schools.5% of time
- Advise or consult with individuals and institutions regarding issues such as the historical authenticity of materials or the customs of a specific historical period.4% of time
- Interview people to gather information about historical events and to record oral histories.4% of time
- Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts.4% of time
- Speak to various groups, organizations, and clubs to promote the aims and activities of historical societies.3% of time
- Coordinate activities of workers engaged in cataloging and filing materials.1% of time
Your week is not the average
Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.
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 3 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 1 task AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
- Get ahead on the 13 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Build on the 7 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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