Learn this job; AI won’t replace it anytime soon

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) tightens its grip across industries, anxiety is growing among workers worldwide. Many jobs once considered secure are now under threat from automation. Employment opportunities are already shrinking across several sectors, and experts predict that by 2030, AI will have a dominant presence in nearly every field.

The concern stems from AI’s capacity to perform the work of multiple people simultaneously, making employers increasingly hesitant to hire more people. But according to renowned British-Canadian computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton — often hailed as the “Godfather of AI” — there are still some professions that AI cannot penetrate.

Speaking on a recent podcast, Hinton pointed specifically to plumbing as one such job that remains beyond AI’s reach — at least for the foreseeable future.

He noted that plumbing demands a level of dexterity, adaptability, and on-the-spot problem-solving that machines and AI tools are currently incapable of replicating. Unlike jobs like accounting or legal processing, which rely heavily on data and can be easily automated, plumbing requires hands-on skill and nuanced judgment.

“Plumbing must be done well, and requires human intuition and responsiveness to real-world issues — things AI simply can’t manage yet,” said Hinton.

Despite his warnings about AI posing a serious risk to humanity within the next 30 years, Hinton reassured audiences that skilled trades like plumbing will remain secure for now, offering a safe career path amid growing automation.