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How exposed to AI is a Photonics Technician?

Of the 30 tasks O*NET lists for photonics technicians, 2 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 19 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
Fiber Optics InstructorFiber Optics Technician (Fiber Optics Tech)Laser Technician (Laser Tech)Optics Technician (Optics Tech)Optomechanical Technician (Optomechanical Tech)Photonics Laboratory Technician (Photonics Lab Tech)Photonics Technician (Photonics Tech)Ruling Technician (Ruling Tech)
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
30
tasks rated for this occupation
18%
hold a degree, from a survey of 22
74k
people do this job in the US
55 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
  • Document procedures, such as calibration of optical or fiber optic equipment
  • Assist scientists or engineers in the conduct of photonic experiments

Only with software built on top

9
  • Compute or record photonic test data
  • Perform diagnostic analyses of processing steps, using analytical or metrological tools, such as microscopy, profilometry, or ellipsometry devices
  • Assist engineers in the development of new products, fixtures, tools, or processes
  • Recommend optical or optic equipment design or material changes to reduce costs or processing times
  • Monitor inventory levels and order supplies as necessary
  • Monitor mechanical factors, such as turbine load or strain information
  • Perform laser seam welding, heat treatment, or hard facing operations
  • Build photonics tools to be applied to electrical grids to detect hot spots, such as failing insulators or conductors
  • Develop solar power sources for lasers used in fiber optics

Cannot be sped up

19
  • Maintain clean working environments, according to clean room standards
  • Adjust or maintain equipment, such as lasers, laser systems, microscopes, oscilloscopes, pulse generators, power meters, beam analyzers, or energy measurement devices
  • Set up or operate assembly or processing equipment, such as lasers, cameras, die bonders, wire bonders, dispensers, reflow ovens, soldering irons, die shears, wire pull testers, temperature or humidity chambers, or optical spectrum analyzers
  • Mix, pour, or use processing chemicals or gases according to safety standards or established operating procedures
  • Assemble fiber optical, optoelectronic, or free-space optics components, subcomponents, assemblies, or subassemblies
  • Set up or operate prototype or test apparatus, such as control consoles, collimators, recording equipment, or cables
  • Test or perform failure analysis for optomechanical or optoelectrical products, according to test plans
  • Assemble or adjust parts or related electrical units of prototypes to prepare for testing
  • Repair or calibrate products, such as surgical lasers
  • Terminate, cure, polish, or test fiber cables with mechanical connectors
  • Design, build, or modify fixtures used to assemble parts
  • Splice fibers, using fusion splicing or other techniques
  • Optimize photonic process parameters by making prototype or production devices
  • Build prototype optomechanical devices for use in equipment such as aerial cameras, gun sights, or telescopes
  • Assemble components of energy-efficient optical communications systems involving photonic switches, optical backplanes, or optoelectronic interfaces
  • Lay out cutting lines for machining, using drafting tools
  • Fabricate devices, such as optoelectronic or semiconductor devices
  • Assemble devices or equipment to be used in green technology applications, including solar energy, high efficiency solid state lighting, energy management, smart buildings, or green processes
  • Fabricate sensors to be used to control wind turbines
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.