Table of Contents
Retail Salespersons
The 52% risk score reflects the overall automation risk of your profession on a scale of 0–100. The higher the score, the more likely parts of your role could be handled by AI, increasing efficiency, but also raising the possibility of job disruption. Nearly all jobs include tasks that are automatable to some degree.
In this role, you sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers. Your job is considered Mid Risk for AI automation.
Below is your job's AI vulnerability profile with detailed breakdowns of tasks, knowledge areas, skills, and abilities. Each item includes AI risk scores and importance ratings to help you prioritize what to focus on. Plus, explore the technology section to see what tools and software you'll likely encounter in this role.
You're already ahead of the curve by checking your risk and exploring your options. This project goes beyond one role, we’re building a global job warning system to help everyone stay ahead of AI. By supporting our research, you’ll unlock your full job profile, including detailed risk breakdowns, trend alerts, and priority access to new research. Supporting our research not only gives you deeper insights into your own role, it helps us keep this project alive for millions of others navigating the future of work, but don't worry, if you are not ready to support us, we provide enough free insights to get you started.
In the meantime explore the sections below, and don't miss the What to do next? section for practical steps you can start today.
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On the job, you would
On-the-job activities and responsibilities that define your role. Each task is analyzed for automation potential and contributes to your overall AI risk assessment.
Greeting customers is a personal interaction that benefits from human presence and emotional intelligence, making it less automatable.
Opening and closing cash registers involves routine tasks that can be largely automated with AI, improving efficiency.
Maintaining knowledge of sales and policies involves continuous learning and adaptation, which AI can assist with but not fully automate.
Computing sales prices and processing payments are routine tasks that can be automated with existing point-of-sale systems, reducing the need for human intervention.
Maintaining sales records is a straightforward task that can be automated through digital record-keeping systems, minimizing the need for manual input.
Recognizing security risks and handling thefts require human judgment and situational awareness, which are challenging for AI to replicate effectively.
Recommending and selecting merchandise based on customer needs involves personal interaction and understanding customer preferences, which are difficult for AI to fully automate.
Answering questions about store merchandise requires product knowledge and customer interaction, which AI can assist with but not fully replace.
Advising customers on product use involves understanding customer needs and preferences, which requires human interaction and judgment.
Knowledge
Theoretical knowledge and understanding required for your position. Knowledge areas are evaluated for AI replacement likelihood and factor into your risk score.
Administration and Management
3.04RiskAdministration and Management involve repetitive, data-driven tasks (e.g., scheduling, reporting, workflow automation) that AI can handle efficiently, while strategic decision-making remains partially human-centric.
Administrative
3.01RiskAdministrative tasks involve repetitive, rule-based processes that AI can automate efficiently with RPA and NLP.
Economics and Accounting
2.28RiskEconomics and Accounting involve repetitive data analysis, forecasting, and bookkeeping tasks that AI can automate efficiently, though some judgment-based aspects may require human oversight.
Sales and Marketing
4.52RiskSales and Marketing involve repetitive tasks (e.g., data analysis, email automation) that AI can handle, but require human judgment for relationship-building, creative strategy, and complex negotiations.
Customer and Personal Service
4.34RiskThis domain includes both routine customer service tasks (automatable) and personal interaction needs (less automatable), with AI likely to handle 60% of potential automation in the next five years.
Production and Processing
2.25RiskProduction and Processing involve repetitive, structured tasks that AI can automate efficiently, such as quality control, data analysis, and workflow management.
Computers and Electronics
2.75RiskThe domain involves repetitive manufacturing, testing, and customer support tasks that AI can automate, with growing capabilities in complex design and analysis tasks.
Skills
Practical abilities and competencies you need to perform your job effectively. Skills are assessed for automation vulnerability and help determine your AI risk level.
Reading Comprehension
3Active Listening
3.75Writing
3Speaking
3.75Mathematics
2.62Critical Thinking
3.12Active Learning
3Learning Strategies
2.62Monitoring
3Abilities
Innate and learned capabilities that enable you to succeed in your role. Abilities are analyzed for AI replication potential and contribute to your overall risk assessment.
Oral Comprehension
3.88RiskOral comprehension involves nuanced understanding of speech, context, and tone, which AI is advancing but not yet fully automated in complex real-world scenarios.
Written Comprehension
3RiskWritten comprehension involves tasks like text analysis, summarization, and question-answering, which AI already excels at through advanced NLP models. These capabilities are likely to be fully automated within 5 years.
Oral Expression
4RiskOral Expression involves complex, context-dependent communication that requires nuance, adaptability, and real-time interaction, which current AI systems struggle to fully replicate, though some aspects like script generation may be automated.
Written Expression
3RiskWritten Expression involves nuanced understanding, creativity, and context, which AI can partially replicate but not fully, limiting automation potential in complex or original tasks.
Fluency of Ideas
2.88Fluency of Ideas involves complex, context-dependent creativity and adaptability that current AI lacks, even with advancements in generative models.
Originality
2.88Originality requires creative insight and novel synthesis of ideas, which AI currently lacks, though it may generate novel content based on patterns rather than true originality.
Problem Sensitivity
3.12Problem Sensitivity requires nuanced judgment, contextual understanding, and adaptability, which current AI systems lack. While AI can analyze data, true problem sensitivity involves human intuition, ethics, and creativity.
Deductive Reasoning
2.88RiskAI excels in structured deductive tasks but may struggle with complex, context-dependent reasoning requiring human intuition.
Inductive Reasoning
2.88RiskInductive reasoning involves pattern recognition and generalization, which AI already excels at through machine learning, with further advancements likely to enhance this capability in the next five years.
Technology Used
Tools, software, and technological systems you use in your work.
Expert Insights
Expert comments on the job, click on the expert to see their answers.
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What to do next?
Your job faces a moderate automation threat. A few timely moves can put you back in the safe zone. Choose your strategy below:
Recommended for Mid Risk:
- • Upskill: Develop skills that complement AI rather than compete with it
- • Use AI: Master AI tools to increase your efficiency and value
- • Pivot Smart: Consider transitioning to roles that require human judgment and creativity
- • Stay Alert: Get notified of industry changes that could affect your role
Each tab contains curated resources designed to help you take the next step. More resources will be added over time.
Top Learning Platforms

Coursera
Unlimited access to 2,000+ courses from top universities.

LinkedIn Learning
Short, practical videos for on-the-job upskilling.

ADPList
Free global mentorship from experienced professionals in design, product, and tech.

Skillshare
Hands-on creative workshops to build your portfolio.

Udemy
Affordable deep dives on tech, leadership & more.
Top Learning Platforms

Coursera
Unlimited access to 2,000+ courses from top universities.

LinkedIn Learning
Short, practical videos for on-the-job upskilling.

ADPList
Free global mentorship from experienced professionals in design, product, and tech.

Skillshare
Hands-on creative workshops to build your portfolio.

Udemy
Affordable deep dives on tech, leadership & more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, a this role has a 52% AI risk score, which is considered mid risk. While some tasks in this role may be automated, the profession as a whole is moderately vulnerable from complete replacement. The key is understanding which specific aspects of your job are most vulnerable, some of which are shown on this page.
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