Will AI replace editors?
Updated
Editors score 59 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 53%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 19% outright, and 28% stays with people.
- 19% AI can do it
- 53% AI helps
- 28% Needs a person
High exposure
Higher than 89% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 21 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 3 of them today, speeds up 12 and leaves 6 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax. AI catches spelling, punctuation and syntax errors reliably; person spot checks. | 90% AI can do it |
| Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work. AI rewrites copy for clarity and readability well; quick review needed. | 75% AI can do it |
| Write text, such as stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters. AI drafts articles and newsletters well; editors review and polish. | 70% AI can do it |
| Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources. AI speeds fact checks but editors must verify sources. | 60% AI helps |
| Select local, state, national, and international news items received from wire services, based on assessment of items' significance and interest value. AI ranks wire items by relevance; significance calls stay human. | 60% AI helps |
| Read material to determine index items and arrange them alphabetically or topically, indicating page or chapter location. AI extracts index terms and locations; a person checks pages. | 60% AI helps |
| Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication, and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication. AI drafts manuscript critiques; author negotiations remain human. | 55% AI helps |
| Develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal. AI can brainstorm angles, but audience judgment stays with editors. | 50% AI helps |
| Arrange for copyright permissions. AI drafts permission requests and tracks rights; humans sign off. | 50% AI helps |
| Plan the contents of publications according to the publication's style, editorial policy, and publishing requirements. AI can draft content plans; editors must check policy fit. | 40% AI helps |
Show the other 11 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Review and approve proofs submitted by composing room prior to publication production. AI flags proof errors; final approval stays with the editor. | 40% AI helps |
| Monitor news-gathering operations to ensure utilization of all news sources, such as press releases, telephone contacts, radio, television, wire services, and other reporters. AI can scan feeds and wires; editors oversee source coverage. | 40% AI helps |
| Allocate print space for story text, photos, and illustrations according to space parameters and copy significance, using knowledge of layout principles. Layout tools fit content to space; editors make final calls. | 40% AI helps |
| Make manuscript acceptance or revision recommendations to the publisher. AI can summarize and score manuscripts; the publisher decides. | 40% AI helps |
| Oversee publication production, including artwork, layout, computer typesetting, and printing, ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget requirements. Tools help track schedules; artwork, printing and budgets need people. | 30% AI helps |
| Supervise and coordinate work of reporters and other editors. Staff supervision relies on trust, feedback and live leadership. | 15% Needs a person |
| Confer with management and editorial staff members regarding placement and emphasis of developing news stories. Placement debates with management involve politics and live judgment. | 15% Needs a person |
| Assign topics, events and stories to individual writers or reporters for coverage. Assigning stories depends on staff strengths and live editorial judgment. | 15% Needs a person |
| Interview and hire writers and reporters or negotiate contracts, royalties, and payments for authors or freelancers. Hiring and contract negotiation involve relationships and personal judgment. | 12% Needs a person |
| Meet frequently with artists, typesetters, layout personnel, marketing directors, and production managers to discuss projects and resolve problems. Resolving problems with artists and production staff is interpersonal work. | 10% Needs a person |
| Direct the policies and departments of newspapers, magazines and other publishing establishments. Directing company policy and departments needs leadership and accountability. | 10% Needs a person |
How editors compare
All occupations (923)
Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media (40)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $77,920 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 91,690 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- -1.1% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Proof copy for spelling, punctuation and syntax in Microsoft Word
- Verify facts and statistics against primary reference sources
- Publish and revise stories in a content management system
- Run layout handoffs in Adobe InDesign with artists and production managers
- Assign stories to writers and set news placement calls
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about editors and AI
Will editors be replaced by AI?
Partly. About 4 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly proofreading and rewriting copy. Assigning stories, hiring writers and supervising staff stay with people because they need live judgment and trust.
Which editor tasks is AI taking over?
Proofreading is the most exposed task, with an exposure score of 90, because AI catches spelling, punctuation and syntax errors reliably. Rewriting copy for readability scores 75, and drafting articles and newsletters scores 70, so editors increasingly review and polish machine drafts.
Which editor tasks stay with humans?
Directing departments, hiring writers and supervising staff score between 10 and 15 on exposure. These stay with people because they depend on trust, live feedback and editorial judgment about what gets published and where it runs.
How can editors stay valuable as AI grows?
Move time from proofreading toward verification and judgment. Verify facts against primary sources and log each source for every story. Lead news placement and assignment calls, where the decision stays with people. Run Adobe InDesign and CMS publishing workflows end to end, and use AI first-pass checks in Microsoft Word before a final read.
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