Data Scientists
Also called: data, scientist
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Identify relationships and trends or any factors that could affect the results of research
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing data scientists work
1 of 15 main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Green (little AI use so far) — 7% when main tasks are weighted. This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Identify relationships and trends or any factors that could affect the results of research (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Analyze, manipulate, or process large sets of data using statistical software (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Create graphs, charts, or other visualizations to convey the results of data analysis using specialized software (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Test, validate, and reformulate models to make sure accurate prediction of outcomes of interest (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Deliver oral or written presentations of the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Recommend data-driven solutions to key stakeholders (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Identify business problems or management objectives that can be addressed through data analysis (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Compare models using statistical performance metrics (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Clean and manipulate raw data using statistical software (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Identify solutions to business problems (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Apply feature selection algorithms to models predicting outcomes of interest (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Write new functions or applications in programming languages to conduct analyses (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Read scientific articles, conference papers, or other sources of research to identify emerging analytic trends and technologies (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Propose solutions in engineering, the sciences, and other fields using mathematical theories and techniques (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Apply sampling techniques to determine groups to be surveyed or use complete enumeration methods (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Design surveys, opinion polls, or other instruments to collect data — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Identify relationships and trends or any factors that could affect the results of research”.
- Weeks 3–4: Make it a habit. Use AI 3 times a week for 15 minutes. Always check facts, numbers and names yourself.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and data scientists
Will AI replace data scientists?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 1 of the 15 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Green rating (little AI use so far). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 15 of the 16 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which data tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: identify relationships and trends or any factors that could affect the results of research.
Which data tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: analyze, manipulate, or process large sets of data using statistical software; create graphs, charts, or other visualizations to convey the results of data analysis using specialized software; test, validate, and reformulate models to make sure accurate prediction of outcomes of interest. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 98% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a data start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.