Will athletes be replaced by AI?
Updated
Athletes score 20 of 100 for AI exposure. 67% of their task time still needs a person. AI speeds up the other 33%.
- 33% AI helps
- 67% Needs a person
Low exposure
Lower than 79% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 9 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can't do any of them end to end yet. It speeds up 3 and leaves 6 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Assess performance following athletic competition, identifying strengths and weaknesses and making adjustments to improve future performance. AI can summarize stats and video, but coaches and athletes interpret results. | 40% AI helps |
| Maintain optimum physical fitness levels by training regularly, following nutrition plans, or consulting with health professionals. AI can plan nutrition and schedules, but training and health care are physical. | 22% AI helps |
| Represent teams or professional sports clubs, performing such activities as meeting with members of the media, making speeches, or participating in charity events. AI can draft speeches and talking points, but appearances are in person. | 22% AI helps |
| Receive instructions from coaches or other sports staff prior to events and discuss performance afterwards. Live coach briefings and debriefs are interpersonal, with little AI role. | 15% Needs a person |
| Maintain equipment used in a particular sport. Physical equipment maintenance needs hands on tools and in person work. | 8% Needs a person |
| Lead teams by serving as captain. Captaincy relies on live leadership, trust and on field judgement. | 8% Needs a person |
| Exercise or practice under the direction of athletic trainers or professional coaches to develop skills, improve physical condition, or prepare for competitions. Physical training under trainers requires in person coaching and movement. | 5% Needs a person |
| Participate in athletic events or competitive sports, according to established rules and regulations. Competing physically in events is a task for people. | 3% Needs a person |
| Attend scheduled practice or training sessions. Requires physical presence at practice sessions. | 2% Needs a person |
How athletes compare
All occupations (923)
Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media (40)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $66,710 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 15,070 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +5.5% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Review race splits and video in Excel with pivot tables
- Build performance decks in Microsoft PowerPoint for coaches
- Hold a sports nutrition plan with a registered dietitian
- Run in-person training sessions under a licensed coach
- Lead the team on field as captain during competition
- Write media statements and speech drafts in Microsoft Word
Safer roles nearby
3 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about athletes and AI
Will AI replace athletes?
Partly. About 1 in 10 of an athlete's working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly assessing performance after competition and planning fitness and nutrition. Competing, training in person and captaining a team stay with people, because they need a body on the field and live judgement.
Which athlete tasks is AI taking over?
Performance assessment and fitness planning are the most exposed, with an exposure score of 40 for post-competition review. AI can summarize stats and video and draft training schedules and nutrition plans, but the athlete or coach still interprets the results and adjusts the plan.
Which athlete tasks stay human?
Competing in events and attending practice stay with athletes, with exposure scores of 3 and 2. Both need a body on the field, and captaincy relies on live leadership and on field judgement, which AI adds little to.
How can athletes stay valuable as AI changes the sport?
Use video analysis and spreadsheet tools to track your data, and bring clear numbers to debriefs with coaches. Keep your training and competition in person, and build skills in media appearances and speaking, which carry a exposure score of 22 and need you in the room.
Related jobs
Next steps for athletes
Check which roles in your team AI can take on
We map your team's tasks, show what AI can do today and build the automations that pay back first.
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