Cardiologists

Cardiologists score 35 out of 100, which is moderate exposure to AI. That ranks #475 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 26 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 0 on its own and 18 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 6 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

35/ 100

Moderate

Rank: #475of 923 jobs
US workers: 17,290BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $496,010a year
In real AI use: 6 of 26tasks, 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: 18 (69%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 8 (31%)

Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, or disease prevention.AI can speed this up with extra software · Seen in real AI use
Answer questions that patients have about their health and well-being.AI can speed this up with extra software · Seen in real AI use
Calculate valve areas from blood flow velocity measurements.AI can speed this up with extra software · Seen in real AI use
Compare measurements of heart wall thickness and chamber sizes to standards to identify abnormalities, using the results of an echocardiogram.AI can speed this up with extra software
Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.AI can speed this up with extra software
Conduct exercise electrocardiogram tests to monitor cardiovascular activity under stress.AI can speed this up with extra software
Conduct research to develop or test medications, treatments, or procedures that prevent or control disease or injury.AI can speed this up with extra software
Design and explain treatment plans, based on patient information such as medical history, reports, and examination results.AI can speed this up with extra software
Diagnose medical conditions of patients, using records, reports, test results, or examination information.AI can speed this up with extra software · Seen in real AI use
Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.AI can speed this up with extra software · Seen in real AI use
Monitor patient progress following cardiac surgery.AI can speed this up with extra software
Monitor patients' conditions and progress, and reevaluate treatments, as necessary.AI can speed this up with extra software
Observe ultrasound display screen, and listen to signals to record vascular information, such as blood pressure, limb volume changes, oxygen saturation, and cerebral circulation.AI can speed this up with extra software
Obtain and record patient information, including patient identification, medical history, and examination results.AI can speed this up with extra software · Seen in real AI use
Order medical tests, such as echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, and angiograms.AI can speed this up with extra software
Prescribe heart medication to treat or prevent heart problems.AI can speed this up with extra software
Recommend surgeons or surgical procedures.AI can speed this up with extra software
Talk to other physicians about patients to create a treatment plan.AI can speed this up with extra software
Administer emergency cardiac care for life-threatening heart problems, such as cardiac arrest and heart attack.Little or no AI speed-up
Conduct tests of the pulmonary system, using a spirometer or other respiratory testing equipment.Little or no AI speed-up
Diagnose cardiovascular conditions, using cardiac catheterization.Little or no AI speed-up
Inject contrast media into patients' blood vessels.Little or no AI speed-up
Operate diagnostic imaging equipment to produce contrast-enhanced radiographs of heart and cardiovascular system.Little or no AI speed-up
Perform minimally invasive surgical procedures, such as implanting pacemakers and defibrillators.Little or no AI speed-up
Perform vascular procedures, such as balloon angioplasty and stents.Little or no AI speed-up
Supervise or train cardiology technologists or students.Little or no AI speed-up

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Questions about cardiologists and AI

Will AI replace cardiologists?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Cardiologists score 35 out of 100 (moderate exposure), #475 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 18 of the job's 26 tasks, 0 of them on its own, while 8 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which cardiologists tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, or disease prevention"; "Answer questions that patients have about their health and well-being"; "Calculate valve areas from blood flow velocity measurements".

Which cardiologists tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Administer emergency cardiac care for life-threatening heart problems, such as cardiac arrest and heart attack"; "Conduct tests of the pulmonary system, using a spirometer or other respiratory testing equipment"; "Diagnose cardiovascular conditions, using cardiac catheterization".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 6 of the 26 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

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

About 17,290 people in the US, with median pay of $496,010 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.