Secretaries and admins grapple with a growing threat from AI

Key Points:

• Employment for secretaries and administrative assistants, a predominantly female profession, has been declining for decades and faces further threats from AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude that can automate many tasks.
• Despite the decline, some administrative professionals, such as Deanna Danger, are embracing AI to increase productivity, using tools to automate note-taking and other routine duties, thereby freeing time for higher-level engagement.
• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects continued decline in most administrative roles except for medical secretaries, attributing job reductions to productivity-enhancing technologies over time.
• Challenges for clerical workers include limited adaptive capacity due to factors like age, lower median pay, and narrow skill sets, making them more vulnerable to AI-induced displacement, though some are successfully leveraging AI to advance their roles.
• Experts emphasize that while AI can automate routine tasks, it cannot replace the emotional intelligence and relationship-building skills critical to executive assistants, who are increasingly using AI strategically to enhance their impact and job security.