If you’ve been worried about AI taking over your job, relax. AI isn’t replacing workers anytime soon—it simply can’t handle the tasks we do every day.
A recent experiment from Carnegie Mellon University tested a company run entirely by AI agents. This project, called TheAgentCompany, included bots from big names like Google and OpenAI, filling roles such as financial analysts and project managers. Researchers wanted to see how these AI models would perform in real-world tasks, like navigating file directories or writing performance reviews.
Unfortunately, the results were less than impressive. The top-performing AI, Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet, only finished about 24% of its assigned tasks. Completing each task took an average of 30 steps and cost over $6. Meanwhile, Google’s Gemini 2.0 had a success rate of just 11.4%, while Amazon’s Nova Pro v1 managed only 1.7% of tasks finished.
So, why do these AI agents struggle? Researchers found that they lack common sense and social skills. They can even misinterpret tasks, leading to errors. For example, one bot couldn’t find the right person to ask for help and ended up renaming another user to get the answer. Such mistakes highlight fundamental limitations in current AI technology, which often acts more like a fancy predictive text tool than a genuinely intelligent assistant.
It’s clear that AI can handle simpler tasks, but more complex work is still a challenge. Many experts agree that we’re a long way from achieving true artificial general intelligence (AGI)—the type of AI that learns and adapts like humans. For now, your job is safe.
In fact, a study by McKinsey reported that only about 20% of jobs can be fully automated with today’s technology. Many roles require emotional intelligence, creativity, and critical thinking—skills that AI still cannot replicate.
People are getting a bit nervous about this, as seen on social media platforms where discussions about AI’s potential often stir fears and curiosity. Yet, while AI will certainly change the workplace, it isn’t going to replace the unique capabilities that humans bring. So, you can work with AI, but don’t worry—your job isn’t going anywhere yet.
For more insights into the relationship between AI and jobs, you might check out a report from the McKinsey Global Institute, which emphasizes how jobs may evolve rather than disappear altogether.