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How exposed to AI is a Telephone Operator?

Of the 16 tasks O*NET lists for telephone operators, 7 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 3 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
411 Directory Assistance Operator (411 Directory Assistance Op)Directory Assistance Operator (Directory Assistance Op)Information SpecialistLive Source Operator (Live Source Op)Long Distance Operator (LD Operator)PBX Operator (Post Box Exchange Operator)Phone Operator (Telephone Operator)Phone Secretary (Telephone Secretary)TELECOM Op (Telecommunications Operator)Toll Operator (Toll Op)
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
16
tasks rated for this occupation
0%
hold a degree, from a survey of only 19
4k
people do this job in the US
17 of 51
least protected in office and admin

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

7
  • Observe signal lights on switchboards, and dial or press buttons to make connections
  • Operate telephone switchboards and systems to advance and complete connections, including those for local, long distance, pay telephone, mobile, person-to-person, and emergency calls
  • Monitor automated systems for placing collect calls and intervene for a callers needing assistance
  • Interrupt busy lines if an emergency warrants
  • Promote company products, services, and savings plans when appropriate
  • Operate paging systems or other systems of bells or buzzers to notify recipients of incoming calls
  • Keep records of calls placed and received, and of related toll charges

Only with software built on top

6
  • Listen to customer requests, referring to alphabetical or geographical directories to answer questions and provide telephone information
  • Provide assistance for customers with special billing requests
  • Calculate and quote charges for services such as long-distance connections
  • Perform clerical duties such as typing, proofreading, and sorting mail
  • Consult charts to determine charges for pay-telephone calls, requesting coin deposits for calls as necessary
  • Update directory information

Cannot be sped up

3
  • Suggest and check alternate spellings, locations, or listing formats to customers lacking details or complete information
  • Offer special assistance to persons such as those who are unable to dial or who are in emergency situations
  • Provide relay service for hearing-impaired users
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.