Will AI replace traditionally Jewish jobs? - opinion

For decades, many have warned that artificial intelligence threatens to displace the very professions Jewish families have built their lives around in America – medicine, law, and finance. These jobs tend to reward intellect and interpersonal skills over physical labor. However, the real issue isn't AI versus humans; it's whether professionals choose to embrace AI or not. Those who don't use AI risk becoming obsolete.

Take radiology, for example. In 2016, experts like Geoffrey Hinton predicted radiologists would be replaced by AI within five years. Similarly, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang called radiology "the first job AI would destroy." Yet, radiologist numbers have actually increased since those warnings. In fact, the American College of Radiology projects radiology workforce growth could reach 40% by 2055.

AI simply makes radiologists' jobs faster and allows hospitals to run more scans, resulting in more patients, which in turn leads to more radiologists needed. AI excels at processing and organizing information, such as reading images or drafting documents. Yet, it cannot yet hold accountability or make decisions that courts, regulators, or patients would accept.

This is why AI is displacing junior staff like paralegals, junior analysts, and note-takers before it affects top professionals like doctors, lawyers, and accountants.

For the Jewish community, which has a high level of educational attainment, this matters greatly. A 2020 Pew Research Center survey found that 60% of Jewish adults were college graduates, compared to 30% of all American adults. Twenty-eight% held postgraduate degrees, vs 11% of the general population. These figures reflect generations of families pushing their children into professions where their judgment and expertise are valued, not just their labor.

While AI poses a threat to certain tasks within these professions, such as intake, scheduling, and note-taking, it also presents an opportunity. Just as a solo attorney or small accounting practice can use AI to reduce paperwork and grow leaner, the same tools can help new entrepreneurs build practices or services at a lower cost. A young accountant, for instance, can serve more clients using AI for transcription, drafting, and research, thus enabling growth without the need for more hires.

Moreover, AI can level the playing field for aspiring entrepreneurs. It allows them to test ideas and compete with larger firms without significant investments in employees, software, or outside help. This is particularly important for a community known for its entrepreneurial spirit and history of building professional practices. AI acts as a force multiplier, boosting the ability of individuals to start and grow businesses.

The impact of AI isn't limited to the three traditionally Jewish professions. Bankers and financiers aren't being replaced by AI models that price deals; instead, they use AI to move faster while the actual business still relies on relationships, trust, and strategic decisions. Similarly, jewelers use AI to render and iterate designs quickly, but it's the human element that builds relationships and identifies new market opportunities.

The bottom line is that AI won't replace Jewish jobs, but it will replace those who refuse to use it. The professions themselves remain vital because they carry responsibility and accountability. As long as professionals continue to utilize AI effectively, these fields will persist and even thrive. AI is a tool that empowers those who harness it, rather than a force that destroys jobs.