Will AI replace Rock Splitters, Quarry?

AI can do 8% of the work Rock Splitters, Quarry do at least twice as fast. Real use has not caught up: none of their tasks show up in real AI use yet, but AI could speed up 1 of them. Robots can technically handle 7 physical tasks. 1 still needs a person.

AI is already doing this0 · 0% of time

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

  • Real AI use has not reached any of this job's tasks yet.

AI could do this next1 · 8% of time

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

  • Locate grain line patterns to determine how rocks will split when cut.8% of time

Robots can technically do this7 · 72% 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.

  • Remove pieces of stone from larger masses, using jackhammers, wedges, and other tools.Robots: purpose built settings22% of time
  • Drill holes along outlines, using jackhammers.Robots: purpose built settings22% of time
  • Mark dimensions or outlines on stone prior to cutting, using rules and chalk lines.Robots: purpose built settings8% of time
  • Drill holes into sides of stones broken from masses, insert dogs or attach slings, and direct removal of stones.Robots: purpose built settings8% of time
  • Cut slabs of stone into sheets that will be used for floors or counters.Robots: purpose built settings7% of time
  • Cut grooves along outlines, using chisels.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Set charges of explosives to split rock.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time

Still needs a person1 · 19% 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.

  • Insert wedges and feathers into holes, and drive wedges with sledgehammers to split stone sections from masses.19% of time

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What this means

Little of this work suits AI. The bigger change here is robots: today's robots can technically do 72% of the working time, though they are rarely cheap enough to replace people yet.

What to do next

  • Get ahead on the 1 task AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Keep an eye on the 7 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 1 task that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.

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