The significant impact of AI on roles centered around literacy, writing, and critical thinking

“AI is no longer a distant vision of the future, but is already becoming an integral part of current economic activities.”

That is the conclusion of a recent study by Anthropic, the company behind Claude AI. The researchers analyzed millions of conversations conducted via Claude, sketching a detailed picture of AI’s influence on the current and future labor market. The study shows that AI is mainly used for tasks where reading proficiency, writing, and critical thinking are central. In other words, skills that are essential within the legal sector. What does this mean for legal professionals? Which other sectors and tasks are most affected? And what role does wage level play in AI usage across different occupational groups?

The study’s design

The study analyzed millions of Claude.ai Free and Pro conversations using Clio, a privacy-preserving analysis system. The conversations were linked to the O*NET database, a U.S. Department of Labor database containing information on occupations and tasks within nearly 20,000 economic roles.

The research was divided into several elements:

• Task-level analysis: AI usage was systematically classified within O*NET task categories.
• Linking to occupations: tasks were linked to specific occupations to map AI usage by sector.
• Depth of AI usage: the study examined what percentage of tasks within an occupation show AI usage.
• Skills analysis: it was determined which of the 35 O*NET skills AI supports the most.
• Wages and accessibility: analyzed AI usage in relation to salary and education level.
• Automation vs. augmentation: classified conversations to determine whether AI replaces or supports work.
• Model comparison: investigated differences in AI usage between Claude models.
• Validation: a human check on a subset of conversations ensured accuracy.

Insights from the study

The research results show not only the extent of AI usage but also the sectors where the impact is greatest and how AI is currently being deployed:

• AI usage is already widespread: 36% of occupations use AI in at least a quarter of their tasks. This confirms that AI is no longer a niche tool but is becoming an integral part of work processes across various sectors.
• Software development and technical writing lead the way: tasks in software engineering and writing-related professions, such as technical writers and copywriters, account for nearly 50% of total AI usage.
• AI is used more often for support than replacement: 57% of interactions indicate augmentation. AI helps people learn, improve, and iterate on tasks. In 43% of cases, AI is used for automation, where human involvement is minimal.
• AI usage peaks in the upper-middle wage segment: AI is most used in occupations in the top quartile of the wage spectrum, such as software developers and analysts. Usage is lower in both the lowest- and highest-paid occupations, such as restaurant workers and medical specialists.
• Cognitive skills dominate AI interactions: skills such as reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking are most common in human-AI conversations. In contrast, AI usage in physical and management skills is minimal.
• AI integration varies greatly by occupation: only 4% of occupations use AI in more than 75% of their tasks. This shows that AI is not yet all-encompassing but currently focuses on specific tasks within certain sectors.

The impact of AI on legal activities

Although conversations about legal topics currently account for only 0.9% of Claude interactions, the research results show that AI could play an increasingly significant role within the legal domain.

The data shows that AI is primarily used for tasks where reading proficiency, writing, and critical thinking are central. These are essential skills within the legal sector. In the future, AI could, for example, assist in analyzing legal documents, drafting contracts, and conducting case law research.

Additionally, the study shows that AI is used more often for augmentation (57%) than automation (43%), which aligns with how AI can be deployed in legal professions: as a tool that enhances rather than replaces human expertise, allowing you as a legal professional or lawyer to remain in control.

With AI usage peaking in high-wage occupations and analytical tasks, it is likely that lawyers, notaries, and in-house counsel will also increasingly embrace AI. However, a recent study by the International Bar Association (IBA) titled ‘Future of Legal Services‘ shows that many lawyers still view AI as a problem for next year and do not yet consider it an urgent priority. While the technology can alleviate repetitive tasks, allowing legal professionals to focus on more complex analyses and strategic advice, the IBA concludes that the international legal community is still insufficiently prepared for the threats and opportunities that AI brings.

Conclusion

AI is no longer a technology of the future, but a fundamental part of today’s economy. Anthropic’s research shows that AI is spreading rapidly across various sectors, with cognitive and analytical professions benefiting most. Although AI usage within the legal sector is still relatively limited, the technology offers clear opportunities to improve the efficiency and accuracy of legal work.

For legal professionals and lawyers, this means the question is not whether AI will have an impact, but how this impact will evolve in the coming years. It is therefore essential for legal professionals to explore the possibilities and limitations of AI so they can deploy this technology responsibly and effectively within their field.