AI Reshaping Industry Ecosystems: How to Seize the Initiative in This Transformation?

AI is reshaping the workplace at an unprecedented pace, with its applications penetrating multiple domains from software development to marketing. During Chinese New Year, the emergence of DeepSeek sparked widespread attention from the global tech community and investors. Recently, Anthropic, the parent company of the renowned U.S. AI platform Claude, published a research paper titled ‘Which Economic Tasks are Performed with AI? Evidence from Millions of Claude Conversations,’ analyzing over 4 million conversations. As a leading human resource provider, KOS thoroughly studied this paper, extracting valuable information for job seekers and offering insights and coping strategies from a headhunter’s perspective.

I. AI Penetration Across Industries: Which Professions Use It Most?
The research indicates that AI’s penetration across industries has far exceeded expectations, with its impact not limited to the tech sector but extending to various industries and occupational categories.

1. Industries with Widespread AI Use:
– Computer and Mathematical Occupations (37.2%): Software development and data analysis positions are the primary areas of AI application.
– Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media (10.3%): AI excels in content creation and advertising copywriting.
– Education and Research: AI-assisted teaching and research data analysis are becoming increasingly common.
– Business and Financial Occupations: AI may play crucial roles in risk assessment and market forecasting.

2. Industries with Lower AI Usage:
– Physical labor
– Healthcare Support Occupations

AI application shows a ‘high in the middle, low at both ends’ pattern in salary distribution. Middle to high-paying positions (such as those in the software industry) are the main areas for AI applications. These positions offer generous salaries and have a high acceptance of AI technology. Low-paying (such as restaurant servers) and extremely high-paying (such as doctors) positions have low AI usage rates, either due to AI technology limitations or because the work requires high levels of physical operation or professional judgment. However, this doesn’t mean there are no opportunities in these fields. As AI technology iterates, industries like healthcare and services will also undergo transformation. Job seekers can plan ahead, stay informed about relevant technological developments, and prepare for future transitions.

II. Is AI an ‘Assistant’ or a ‘Replacement’? How to Build Core Competitiveness in This Transformation
The study shows that 57% of AI use is to augment human capabilities (such as learning or iterating output), while 43% is to automate tasks (such as directly completing tasks). This suggests that AI is not merely replacing humans but more often collaborating with them to help complete tasks more effectively.

AI applications in the workplace manifest in two modes: ‘automation’ and ‘augmentation’:
Augmentation (57%) – refers to AI as a collaborative tool for humans, helping them complete tasks and enhancing human capabilities and efficiency.
Automation (43%) – refers to AI independently completing tasks with minimal human involvement.

If your profession hasn’t been deeply penetrated by AI yet, there’s no need to worry excessively about being replaced. Instead, consider how to use AI tools to improve work efficiency. For example, marketers can use AI to generate ad copy, and teachers can use AI to assist in teaching. The key is how to integrate AI tools into your workflow to enhance overall productivity.

III. The Future is Here: Breakthrough Strategies for Professionals
As AI profoundly transforms various industries, rather than worrying about when AI might replace you, it’s better to proactively adjust your skills to adapt to this transformation. Here are three strategies job seekers can adopt:

1. Master the use of AI tools: Learn how to work collaboratively with AI to improve work efficiency.
2. Build ‘irreplaceable’ core competencies:
– Interpersonal and business communication: high emotional intelligence, negotiation, crisis PR, team management, cross-cultural communication.
– Complex problem-solving ability: integrating multidimensional information, analyzing trends, and making judgments.
– Higher-order thinking skills: innovation, strategy, cross-disciplinary thinking.
– Leadership: decision-making, influence, corporate management.
– Creativity: consumer insights, content ideation and planning.

3. Stay informed about industry trends and plan ahead: As AI technology iterates, industries like healthcare and services will also undergo transformation. Job seekers can stay informed about relevant technological developments and prepare for future transitions.

The AI wave has arrived, but it’s not a menacing force. On the contrary, AI brings new opportunities to many professions. As a job seeker, the key is how to adapt to this change, master the skills to collaborate with AI, and transform it into your competitive advantage.

As a leading talent recruitment and HR solutions provider, KOS International consistently monitors workplace trends, dedicated to helping businesses and talents meet the challenges of the AI era. If you have any questions about career development or wish to obtain more industry updates and career advice, please follow us and join us in exploring the future of the workplace in the AI era!

Source: Handa, K., Tamkin, A., et al. Which Economic Tasks are Performed with AI? Evidence from Millions of Claude Conversations. Anthropic, 2025