Will AI replace Operations Research Analysts?

AI can do 98% of the work Operations Research Analysts do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 6 of their 17 tasks, while 10 more are ready but barely used so far. 1 still needs a person.

AI is already doing this6 · 40% of time

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

  • Formulate mathematical or simulation models of problems, relating constants and variables, restrictions, alternatives, conflicting objectives, and their numerical parameters.Mostly automated12% of time
  • Prepare management reports defining and evaluating problems and recommending solutions.Mostly automated9% of time
  • Study and analyze information about alternative courses of action to determine which plan will offer the best outcomes.Mostly automated7% of time
  • Collaborate with senior managers and decision makers to identify and solve a variety of problems and to clarify management objectives.Mostly assisted6% of time
  • Analyze information obtained from management to conceptualize and define operational problems.Mostly automated5% of time
  • Develop business methods and procedures, including accounting systems, file systems, office systems, logistics systems, and production schedules.Mostly automated1% of time

AI could do this next10 · 57% of time

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

  • Define data requirements, and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests.15% of time
  • Perform validation and testing of models to ensure adequacy, and reformulate models, as necessary.10% of time
  • Collaborate with others in the organization to ensure successful implementation of chosen problem solutions.7% of time
  • Observe the current system in operation, and gather and analyze information about each of the component problems, using a variety of sources.7% of time
  • Present the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users.6% of time
  • Break systems into their components, assign numerical values to each component, and examine the mathematical relationships between them.4% of time
  • Specify manipulative or computational methods to be applied to models.4% of time
  • Design, conduct, and evaluate experimental operational models in cases where models cannot be developed from existing data.2% of time
  • Develop and apply time and cost networks to plan, control, and review large projects.1% of time
  • Educate staff in the use of mathematical models.1% of time

Still needs a person1 · 2% 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.

  • Review research literature.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.

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What this means

AI can already do almost all of this work at least twice as fast. People in this job already use it heavily. Expect the role to shift toward deciding what to do, checking AI's work and owning the result.

What to do next

  • Do the 6 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
  • Get ahead on the 10 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Build on the 1 task that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Actuaries99%Statisticians99%Bioinformatics Technicians99%Mathematicians100%Data Scientists95%Business Intelligence Analysts95%

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