Is AI helping or hurting workers? New research from Anthropic has some answers

The continued development of artificial intelligence tools has sparked intense debate about their impact on employment and productivity. Anthropic, an AI company competing with OpenAI and others, has released a study examining how millions of users interact with its Claude chatbot for work-related tasks.

Key findings: Anthropic’s research suggests AI is more likely to augment rather than replace most workers, with only about 4% of jobs facing significant disruption from AI capabilities.

• The study found 57% of users employed Claude to enhance or improve existing tasks, while 43% used it for full task automation
• Tasks ranged from software coding assistance to writing style improvements
• Foreign language teachers were among the small percentage of jobs identified as potentially facing major disruption

Methodology and scope: The research analyzed patterns in how users interact with Claude to perform various workplace tasks, mapping these interactions to different job categories.

• The study focused on individual users of Claude’s free and pro versions
• Corporate enterprise users were notably excluded from the analysis
• The research has not undergone peer review or independent journal publication

Expert perspective: The findings contribute valuable insights to the ongoing discourse about AI’s role in the workplace, though questions remain about the full scope of its impact.

• Sam Ransbotham, professor at Boston College Carroll School of Management, emphasizes the importance of understanding both job displacement and productivity enhancement
• The research suggests knowledge workers should explore how AI tools could improve their job performance
• Experts note the study’s conclusions should be considered alongside its limitations and potential bias

Broader industry context: The study emerges amid significant developments in the AI sector and regulatory landscape.

• OpenAI recently launched a deep research tool for comprehensive report generation
• Amazon has integrated Chinese AI app DeepSeek into its web services
• Political concerns have emerged about Chinese AI applications on government devices
• Former President Trump has removed previous AI safety restrictions

Looking ahead: While Anthropic’s research provides encouraging data about AI’s potential to enhance rather than replace human workers, the study’s limitations and potential bias suggest the need for more comprehensive, independent research across different workplace contexts and user groups. The evolving regulatory landscape and rapid technological advancement will likely continue to shape how AI impacts the workforce.