Navigating college majors in the age of AI - Earnest | Earnest

8 College Majors Most Likely To Be Replaced By AI

By Sasha Bulatskaya | Published on October 21, 2025

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You might have heard that AI is going to replace thousands of jobs and are wondering how this could impact your college major. It’s true that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to revolutionize work, but not in the way many think. The World Economic Forum predicted that jobs will be plentiful in the future, even with the advent of new AI technology. The real question isn’t which majors will be most impacted, but how future job responsibilities will change.

In this blog post, we’ll delve into majors more likely to see change and what you can do to future-proof your career.

What jobs will AI replace?

To understand which jobs are more likely to be replaced by AI, we can look at some of the current trends in the job market. Many professionals already use AI to make their work quicker and more efficient.

Companies have been using chatbots for years to address simple customer service questions. Visual designers are already experimenting with AI design tools, and human resources departments are using ATS (applicant tracking systems) to scan resumes and sort prospective candidates. These tools are opening up new possibilities in these professions, but they also take away some of the work that could be done by a human.

Majors that are more likely to be impacted by AI

Computer Science

AI is a type of computer program capable of doing calculations at a speed and complexity that’s impossible for humans. Computer science and computer programming are among the most well-paid college majors, and because they rely heavily on numbers and data, they’re more likely to be impacted.

One promising career path in computer science is specializing in machine learning or the development of Artificial intelligence itself. It’s also difficult to predict how effective this technology will be, and so far, humans need to manage and double-check the work of AI tools. This means that human workers are not going anywhere. However, the programming skills that you learn in college can become outdated faster as AI systems advance.

Statistics

If you love analyzing statistical trends, you might be considering a career in data science. Like computer science, many data science functions can be performed using AI tools. Traditional data science roles are going to look very different in the future as AI will take on more and more data analysis. These programs will still need human supervision, and that’s where a future data scientist will come in. However, it’s impossible to predict what this job will look like until we understand AI’s full capabilities and limitations.

Advertising and Graphic Design

One of the surprising fields being impacted by AI is advertising and design. Tools like Midjourney and Dall-E from OpenAI can create images from simple instructions. Other design programs such as Canva are helping people without creative skills make videos and presentations. Traditionally, a designer or art director held the keys to all of these functions, but that’s no longer the case.

Almost anyone can use these tools, but not everyone has the right training or creative eye. Firms will still need a professional designer to ensure that what’s being produced fits their visual style. Advertising thrives on understanding behaviors and human connections—something a machine can’t do. If you’re considering this major, be aware that while new jobs in advertising aren’t going away, there will likely be fewer of them. Your role might be more of a creative director or editor rather than a hands-on designer.

Finance

Financial careers involve analyzing market trends, new business opportunities, and flagging risks. Because AI has access to all available information on the web, it can do this work much quicker than a person. One way to future-proof this area of study is to focus more on consumer behavioral psychology to complement AI-driven data analysis.

Healthcare Administration

If you’re interested in a career on the administration side of healthcare, AI will likely streamline many administrative tasks, such as data entry. Recordkeeping in healthcare must be accurate, so it’s unlikely that it will be entirely automated, but the new technology will reshape these roles. Many healthcare-adjacent careers focus on human interaction, such as public health administrators, dieticians, and speech-language pathologists. You might consider pivoting in this direction if you’re worried about losing your future job to AI.

Accounting

AI tools are increasingly used for automated financial modeling and planning. This will change how many financial planners and accountants work and the kinds of services they offer. Like other analysis-driven tasks, financial modeling will likely be outsourced to AI, with a human using these tools to make more personal recommendations. Some lower-level accounting roles may become obsolete, but many people will still require financial advisors who can provide a human touch.

Writing and Editing

The ChatGPT launch showed that AI is capable of churning out large amounts of content. As a result, many small businesses are using AI to write marketing copy instead of hiring a copywriter. Proofreading and editing tools like Grammarly are undoubtedly making Proofreader roles more scarce.

Despite generative AI taking over many writing tasks, writing roles are unlikely to disappear. Much of the content produced by AI is riddled with errors. It needs a person to edit it, include context, and have the emotional intelligence to connect with the audience.

Business

If you’re getting a business degree to become a stock trader, you’re likely going to use AI algorithms on the job. Stock traders are known to work long hours, and unlike a person, a computer program doesn’t sleep. AI can track trends, solve problems, and make recommendations across different time zones, replacing some of the job functions of traditional stock traders. However, these roles are unlikely to become entirely automated.

How can I future-proof my career against AI and automation?

As a college student, you have an advantage over workers who are already on the job. You have more free time to learn new skills. Try upskilling by getting used to AI tools early so that you can understand how you will add value. If you’re a designer, check out AI-generated content tools and find ways to add your own unique skill set to complement its capabilities. Focus on courses that develop your critical thinking skills since Artificial Intelligence is better at repetitive tasks.

Embrace change

We’re at the forefront of another industrial revolution, which makes it impossible to predict future job losses due to AI accurately. Remember that adaptability and continuous learning are key to thriving in a world where technological advancements aren’t slowing down. Embrace change, track new AI trends on social media, and get curious about these tools so that you can understand how to use them to your advantage. This way, you won’t have to worry about AI replacing your job, but will look forward to an exciting career with the help of AI.