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How exposed to AI is a Automotive Engineering Technician?

Of the 18 tasks O*NET lists for automotive engineering technicians, 2 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 12 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Laboratory Technician (Lab Technician)Research Technician
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
18
tasks rated for this occupation
41%
hold a degree, from a survey of 27
40k
people do this job in the US
56 of 56
least protected in architecture and engineering

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

2
  • Read and interpret blueprints, schematics, work specifications, drawings, or charts
  • Analyze test data for automotive systems, subsystems, or component parts

Only with software built on top

4
  • Document test results, using cameras, spreadsheets, documents, or other tools
  • Monitor computer-controlled test equipment, according to written or verbal instructions
  • Analyze performance of vehicles or components that have been redesigned to increase fuel efficiency, such as camless or dual-clutch engines or alternative types of air-conditioning systems
  • Order new test equipment, supplies, or replacement parts

Cannot be sped up

12
  • Set up mechanical, hydraulic, or electric test equipment in accordance with engineering specifications, standards, or test procedures
  • Inspect or test parts to determine nature or cause of defects or malfunctions
  • Install equipment, such as instrumentation, test equipment, engines, or aftermarket products, to ensure proper interfaces
  • Perform or execute manual or automated tests of automotive system or component performance, efficiency, or durability
  • Maintain test equipment in operational condition by performing routine maintenance or making minor repairs or adjustments as needed
  • Improve fuel efficiency by testing vehicles or components that use lighter materials, such as aluminum, magnesium alloy, or plastic
  • Fabricate new or modify existing prototype components or fixtures
  • Recommend product or component design improvements, based on test data or observations
  • Recommend tests or testing conditions in accordance with designs, customer requirements, or industry standards to ensure test validity
  • Test performance of vehicles that use alternative fuels, such as alcohol blends, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, biodiesel, nano diesel, or alternative power methods, such as solar energy or hydrogen fuel cells
  • Participate in research or testing of computerized automotive applications, such as telemetrics, intelligent transportation systems, artificial intelligence, or automatic control
  • Build instrumentation or laboratory test equipment for special purposes
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.