Will AI replace Materials Scientists?
AI can do 76% of the work Materials Scientists do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 2 of their 16 tasks, while 8 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 3 physical tasks. 3 still need a person.
AI is already doing this2 · 20% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Prepare reports, manuscripts, proposals, and technical manuals for use by other scientists and requestors, such as sponsors and customers.Mostly automated11% of time
- Perform experiments and computer modeling to study the nature, structure, and physical and chemical properties of metals and their alloys, and their responses to applied forces.Mostly automated9% of time
AI could do this next8 · 56% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Conduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.17% of time
- Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications.11% of time
- Plan laboratory experiments to confirm feasibility of processes and techniques used in the production of materials with special characteristics.7% of time
- Confer with customers to determine how to tailor materials to their needs.5% of time
- Devise testing methods to evaluate the effects of various conditions on particular materials.5% of time
- Recommend materials for reliable performance in various environments.5% of time
- Write research papers for publication in scientific journals.4% of time
- Research methods of processing, forming, and firing materials to develop such products as ceramic dental fillings, unbreakable dinner plates, and telescope lenses.2% of time
Robots can technically do this3 · 13% 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.
- Test individual parts and products to ensure that manufacturer and governmental quality and safety standards are met.Robots: purpose built settings5% of time
- Test metals to determine conformance to specifications of mechanical strength, strength-weight ratio, ductility, magnetic and electrical properties, and resistance to abrasion, corrosion, heat, and cold.Robots: purpose built settings5% of time
- Test material samples for tolerance under tension, compression, and shear to determine the cause of metal failures.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
Still needs a person3 · 11% 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.
- Supervise and monitor production processes to ensure efficient use of equipment, timely changes to specifications, and project completion within time frame and budget.6% of time
- Visit suppliers of materials or users of products to gather specific information.2% of time
- Teach in colleges and universities.2% 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 already do almost all of this work at least twice as fast. Real use is still behind at 17 out of 100, so the change here is only getting started. Expect the role to shift toward deciding what to do, checking AI's work and owning the result.
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 8 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Keep an eye on the 3 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
- Build on the 3 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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