Anesthesiologists

Anesthesiologists score 25 out of 100, which is moderate exposure to AI. That ranks #581 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 18 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 0 on its own and 9 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 2 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

25/ 100

Moderate

Rank: #581of 923 jobs
US workers: 38,760BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $391,490a year
In real AI use: 2 of 18tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 0 (0%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 9 (50%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 9 (50%)

Record type and amount of anesthesia and patient condition throughout procedure.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Examine patient, obtain medical history, and use diagnostic tests to determine risk during surgical, obstetrical, and other medical procedures.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Confer with other medical professionals to determine type and method of anesthetic or sedation to render patient insensible to pain.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Order laboratory tests, x-rays, and other diagnostic procedures.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Inform students and staff of types and methods of anesthesia administration, signs of complications, and emergency methods to counteract reactions.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Manage anesthesiological services, coordinating them with other medical activities and formulating plans and procedures.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Diagnose illnesses, using examinations, tests, and reports.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Instruct individuals and groups on ways to preserve health and prevent disease.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Conduct medical research to aid in controlling and curing disease, to investigate new medications, and to develop and test new medical techniques.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Monitor patient before, during, and after anesthesia and counteract adverse reactions or complications.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Provide and maintain life support and airway management and help prepare patients for emergency surgery.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Administer anesthetic or sedation during medical procedures, using local, intravenous, spinal, or caudal methods.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Position patient on operating table to maximize patient comfort and surgical accessibility.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Coordinate administration of anesthetics with surgeons during operation.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Decide when patients have recovered or stabilized enough to be sent to another room or ward or to be sent home following outpatient surgery.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Provide medical care and consultation in many settings, prescribing medication and treatment and referring patients for surgery.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Coordinate and direct work of nurses, medical technicians, and other health care providers.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Schedule and maintain use of surgical suite, including operating, wash-up, waiting rooms, or anesthetic and sterilizing equipment.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about anesthesiologists and AI

Will AI replace anesthesiologists?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Anesthesiologists score 25 out of 100 (moderate exposure), #581 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 9 of the job's 18 tasks, 0 of them on its own, while 9 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which anesthesiologists tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Record type and amount of anesthesia and patient condition throughout procedure"; "Examine patient, obtain medical history, and use diagnostic tests to determine risk during surgical, obstetrical, and other medical procedures"; "Confer with other medical professionals to determine type and method of anesthetic or sedation to render patient insensible to pain".

Which anesthesiologists tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Monitor patient before, during, and after anesthesia and counteract adverse reactions or complications"; "Provide and maintain life support and airway management and help prepare patients for emergency surgery"; "Administer anesthetic or sedation during medical procedures, using local, intravenous, spinal, or caudal methods".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 2 of the 18 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as anesthesiologists, and what do they earn?

About 38,760 people in the US, with median pay of $391,490 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.