Table of Contents
Air Traffic Controllers
Air Traffic Controllers
The 46% 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 control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport, and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers, according to established procedures and policies. authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety. Your job is considered Low 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.
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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.
Issuing landing and take-off instructions can be partially automated, but human oversight is crucial for safety and adaptability.
Directing vehicle traffic requires real-time decision-making and adaptability, which are challenging for AI to fully automate.
Monitoring aircraft using radar and other tools is a structured task that AI can assist with, though human oversight ensures safety.
Informing pilots about hazards involves real-time communication and judgment, which AI can assist with but not fully automate.
Providing emergency directions requires quick decision-making and adaptability, which are challenging for AI to replicate.
Alerting emergency services is a procedural task that AI can assist with, but human judgment is crucial in emergencies.
Directing pilots to runways involves real-time decision-making and safety considerations, which AI can assist with but not fully automate.
Transferring control of flights is a structured task that AI can assist with, though human oversight ensures safety and coordination.
Directing ground traffic involves real-time decision-making and adaptability, which are challenging for AI to fully automate.
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
2.54RiskAdministration 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
2.18RiskAdministrative tasks involve repetitive, rule-based processes that AI can automate efficiently with RPA and NLP.
Customer and Personal Service
3.6RiskThis 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.
Personnel and Human Resources
2.26RiskPersonnel and Human Resources involves repetitive tasks like payroll, scheduling, and resume screening that AI can automate efficiently, with growing capabilities in data analysis and process optimization.
Computers and Electronics
2.99RiskThe domain involves repetitive manufacturing, testing, and customer support tasks that AI can automate, with growing capabilities in complex design and analysis tasks.
Engineering and Technology
2.1RiskEngineering and Technology involve repetitive, data-driven tasks (e.g., coding, simulations, diagnostics) that AI can automate efficiently, with growing capabilities in complex problem-solving and system design.
Mathematics
3.28RiskAI already excels in computational mathematics, theorem proving, and problem-solving, with further advancements likely to automate more complex tasks in the next five years.
Physics
2.39RiskPhysics involves repetitive tasks like data analysis, simulations, and mathematical modeling that AI can automate efficiently, though creative theory development remains a human-centric aspect.
Psychology
2.56Psychology involves complex, subjective human behaviors and emotional understanding that AI struggles to replicate, though some data analysis tasks may be automated.
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
3.75Active Listening
4.38Writing
3.12Speaking
4.25Mathematics
2.88Critical Thinking
4.12Active Learning
3.75Learning Strategies
3.12Monitoring
4Abilities
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
4.62RiskOral 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
3.88RiskWritten 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
4.62RiskOral 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
3.38RiskWritten 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
3.38Fluency of Ideas involves complex, context-dependent creativity and adaptability that current AI lacks, even with advancements in generative models.
Originality
3.38Originality 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
4.75Problem 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
4.38RiskAI excels in structured deductive tasks but may struggle with complex, context-dependent reasoning requiring human intuition.
Inductive Reasoning
4.25RiskInductive 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?
Great news — your role is fairly safe for now, but it's smart to stay proactive. Choose your strategy below:
Recommended for Low Risk:
- • Upskill: Focus on human-centric skills that AI can't easily replicate (creativity, emotional intelligence, strategic thinking)
- • Use AI: Learn to leverage AI tools to enhance your productivity and stay ahead of the curve
- • Stay Alert: Monitor changes in your field to maintain your competitive advantage
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 Air Traffic Controllers has a 46% AI risk score, which is considered low risk. While some tasks in this role may be automated, the profession as a whole is for now, relatively safe 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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