Will AI replace Office Machine Operators, Except Computer?
AI can do 22% of the work Office Machine Operators, Except Computer do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 1 of their 18 tasks, while 5 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 12 physical tasks.
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.
- Compute prices for services and receive payment, or provide supervisors with billing information.Mostly automated3% of time
AI could do this next5 · 20% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Read job orders to determine the type of work to be done, the quantities to be produced, and the materials needed.5% of time
- File and store completed documents.4% of time
- Clean machines, perform minor repairs, and report major repair needs.4% of time
- Complete records of production, including work volumes and outputs, materials used, and any backlogs.4% of time
- Prepare and process papers for use in scanning, microfilming, and microfiche.3% of time
Robots can technically do this12 · 78% 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.
- Operate office machines such as high speed business photocopiers, readers, scanners, addressing machines, stencil-cutting machines, microfilm readers or printers, folding and inserting machines, bursters, and binder machines.Robots: purpose built settings21% of time
- Sort, assemble, and proof completed work.Robots: purpose built settings11% of time
- Monitor machine operation, and make adjustments as necessary to ensure proper operation.Robots: purpose built settings9% of time
- Place original copies in feed trays, feed originals into feed rolls, or position originals on tables beneath camera lenses.Robots: purpose built settings8% of time
- Set up and adjust machines, regulating factors such as speed, ink flow, focus, and number of copies.Robots: structured workplaces7% of time
- Operate auxiliary machines such as collators, pad and tablet making machines, staplers, and paper punching, folding, cutting, and perforating machines.Robots: purpose built settings7% of time
- Load machines with materials such as blank paper or film.Robots: purpose built settings5% of time
- Deliver completed work.Robots: structured workplaces5% of time
- Maintain stock of supplies, and requisition any needed items.Robots: structured workplaces3% of time
- Cut copies apart and write identifying information, such as page numbers or titles, on copies.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
- Clean and file master copies or plates.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
- Move heat units and clamping frames over screen beds to form Braille impressions on pages, raising frames to release individual copies.Robots: purpose built settingsunder 1% of time
Still needs a person0 · 0% 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.
- Every task in this job is touched by AI or robots in some way.
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 speed up parts of this job, mostly the paperwork and information work around it. The core still depends on hands, presence or relationships. Robots are the other change to watch: they can technically do 88% of the working time.
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 5 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Keep an eye on the 12 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
Related jobs
Get the weekly brief
One short email a week on how AI is changing work, including jobs like this one.