# Will AI replace physicists? Updated October 2026 Physicists score 60 out of 100 for AI exposure. AI helps with 76% of their task time, and they stay in charge. AI can do another 13%. 11% needs a person. - **13%** AI can do it - **76%** AI helps - **11%** Needs a person High exposure Higher than 91% of the 923 jobs we scored. ## Task by task We graded 10 tasks, most exposed first. AI can do 1 of them, helps with 7 and leaves 2 to people. | Task | AI exposure | | --- | --- | | Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers. Code assistants run complex calculations quickly; researcher checks results. | 72% AI can do it | | Write research proposals to receive funding. AI drafts proposal sections; scientist sets aims and is responsible for content. | 60% AI helps | | Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena. AI speeds signal analysis; physicist judges what results mean. | 58% AI helps | | Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood. AI writes simulation code; physicist designs model and validates output. | 55% AI helps | | Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms. AI drafts equations from findings; physicist validates the math. | 50% AI helps | ## How physicists compare All jobs (923) Life, physical and social science (60) The dark line is **physicists, at 60**. Each dot is a score, and darker dots mean more jobs share it. The short marks are the averages, 37 for all jobs and 47 for life, physical and social science. ## Pay and outlook in the US Median pay $172,250 a year, May 2025 People employed 20,430 in the US, May 2025 Projected change in jobs +7.2% from 2024 to 2034 ## Skills to build - Validate AI-generated simulation code output in Python and C++ - Check MATLAB calculations against measured experimental data - Operate lasers and telescopes for direct physical observation - Build and validate computer simulations of physical data - Write SQL queries to pull experimental datasets - Present experimental results at scientific conferences and in journals ## Safer roles nearby 5 related jobs with lower scores. - [Mathematicians58 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/mathematicians/) - [Astronomers49 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/astronomers/) - [Physics professors44 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/physics-professors/) - [Biochemists44 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/biochemists/) - [Chemists46 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/chemists/) ## Questions about physicists and AI Will physicists be replaced by AI? Partly. About 5 in 10 working hours for physicists go to tasks AI can already do, mostly complex calculations on data and writing research proposals. Observing experiments, building theories and judging what results mean stay with physicists, because those tasks need a person at the equipment and an owner for the conclusions. Which physics tasks is AI taking over? Complex calculations on data carry an exposure score of 72, so code assistants in Python and MATLAB now run the heavy math while the physicist checks the results. Writing research proposals scores 60, since AI drafts the sections and the scientist still sets the aims. Which physicist tasks stay human? Operating lasers and telescopes scores 12 on exposure, because observing matter needs hands-on equipment work at the bench or the observatory. Collaborating on equipment design scores 18, since testing instruments with colleagues depends on physical presence and judgement. How can physicists stay valuable as AI spreads? Start by checking every AI-generated simulation in Python or C++ against measured experimental data before you trust it. Stay responsible for the model design, since you set the physics and validate the output. Spend more time on lasers, telescopes and equipment testing, the work that needs you in the room, and present your results at conferences. ## Related jobs - [Data scientists67 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/data-scientists/) - [Nanosystems engineers48 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/nanosystems-engineers/) - [Materials scientists48 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/materials-scientists/) - [Geoscientists46 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/geoscientists/) ## Next steps for physicists - ### Check your job Your job title is a rough guide. Your tasks decide your score. Paste your job description or CV to see which tasks AI can do. [Check your job](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-exposure-checker/) [Check your CV](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/cv-checker/) - ### Estimate team savings The score is per person. Add headcount and salary to see the hours AI can take on in a team of physicists, and what they cost. [Estimate what AI saves a team of physicists](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/team-ai-audit/?role=physicists) [Work out the return on automation](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-savings-calculator/) ### 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. [Book an AI audit](https://www.aigentcy.com/audit/) ## Related topics - [**Jobs AI can't replace**Roustabouts score lowest, at 6.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-cant-replace/) - [**Jobs most at risk from AI**Proofreaders score highest, at 76.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-most-exposed-to-ai/) - [**High-paying jobs with low AI exposure**Pediatric surgeons earn a median $559,030 and score 29.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/high-paying-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Entry-level jobs with low AI exposure**Roustabouts need little prior training and score 6.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/entry-level-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Jobs AI speeds up the most**AI helps with 98% of the task time for health informatics specialists.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-speeds-up/) - [**AI and jobs in Malta**15 iGaming roles graded task by task.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/malta/) - [**Skills that keep work human**The skills to build in the jobs AI changes least.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/skills/) - [**Jobs A to Z**Every job we score, by first letter.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs/) - [**AI exposure by industry**Average scores for 22 job groups.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/industries/) - [**Write a CV screening software can read**How applicant tracking systems read a CV, and what to change.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cv-screening-guide/) - [**AI for businesses**The tasks to automate first in each team and industry.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-for/) - [**How we score AI exposure**The grading, the weights and every source.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/) Sources and licences Occupation data from the O\*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and modified by Aigentcy. O\*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Wage, employment and projection data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EU occupation names from ESCO, European Commission. AI usage signals from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY) and Microsoft Research (CC BY 4.0). [Methodology and sources](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/). Scores © Aigentcy. Quote them with a link to the page.