Typists
Official O*NET title: Word Processors and Typists (43-9022.00)
Also called: clerk specialist, clerk typist, keyboard specialist, stenographer, typist
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Reformat documents, moving paragraphs or columns
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing typists work
7 of 15 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Amber (some AI use) — 47%. 2 newer tasks are not in the data yet and left out.
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
- Reformat documents, moving paragraphs or columns (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Check completed work for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and format (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Search for specific sets of stored, typed characters to make changes (main task) — some recorded AI use
- File and store completed documents on computer hard drive or disk, or maintain a computer filing system to store, retrieve, update, and delete documents (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Type correspondence, reports, text and other written material from rough drafts, corrected copies, voice recordings, dictation, or previous versions, using a computer, word processor, or typewriter (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Electronically sort and compile text and numerical data, retrieving, updating, and merging documents as required (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Use data entry devices (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Transmit work electronically to other locations (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Perform other clerical duties (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Print and make copies of work (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Address envelopes or prepare envelope labels, using typewriter or computer (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Collate pages of reports and other documents (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Keep records of work performed (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Manage schedules and set dates, times, and locations for meetings and appointments (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Adjust settings for format, page layout, line spacing, and other style requirements (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Operate and resupply printers and computers, changing print wheels or fluid cartridges, adding paper, and loading blank tapes, cards, or disks into equipment (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Gather, register, and arrange the material to be typed, following instructions (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Compute and verify totals on report forms, requisitions, or bills, using adding machine or calculator — some recorded AI use
- Work with technical material, preparing statistical reports, planning and typing statistical tables, and combining and rearranging material from different sources — 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: “Reformat documents, moving paragraphs or columns”. Try the prompt for: “Check completed work for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and format”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and typists
Will AI replace typists?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 7 of the 17 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Amber rating (some AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 9 of the 19 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which typist tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: reformat documents, moving paragraphs or columns; check completed work for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and format; search for specific sets of stored, typed characters to make changes.
Which typist tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: transmit work electronically to other locations; print and make copies of work; address envelopes or prepare envelope labels, using typewriter or computer. 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 84% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a typist 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.
See how this job ranks
Typists ranks #141 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #4 of 34 in Office & Admin.
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