AI exposure score

Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand score 4 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #848 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 20 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 1 on its own and 0 more with extra software built on top of it. None of its tasks showed up in real AI use in April–May 2026.

4/ 100

Low

Rank: #848of 923 jobs
US workers: 10,510BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $42,660a year
In real AI use: 0 of 20tasks, 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: 1 (5%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 0 (0%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 19 (95%)

Record product and processing data on specified forms.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Grind, sand, clean, or polish objects or parts to correct defects or to prepare surfaces for further finishing, using hand tools and power tools.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Verify quality of finished workpieces by inspecting them, comparing them to templates, measuring their dimensions, or testing them in working machinery.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Move controls to adjust, start, or stop equipment during grinding and polishing processes.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Remove completed workpieces from equipment or work tables, using hand tools, and place workpieces in containers.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Measure and mark equipment, objects, or parts to ensure grinding and polishing standards are met.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Transfer equipment, objects, or parts to specified work areas, using moving devices.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Trim, scrape, or deburr objects or parts, using chisels, scrapers, and other hand tools and equipment.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Repair and maintain equipment, objects, or parts, using hand tools.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
File grooved, contoured, and irregular surfaces of metal objects, such as metalworking dies and machine parts, to conform to templates, other parts, layouts, or blueprint specifications.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Mark defects, such as knotholes, cracks, and splits, for repair.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Study blueprints or layouts to determine how to lay out workpieces or saw out templates.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Sharpen abrasive grinding tools, using machines and hand tools.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Load and adjust workpieces onto equipment or work tables, using hand tools.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Fill cracks or imperfections in marble with wax that matches the stone color.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Select files or other abrasives, according to materials, sizes and shapes of workpieces, amount of stock to be removed, finishes specified, and steps in finishing processes.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Apply solutions and chemicals to equipment, objects, or parts, using hand tools.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Clean brass particles from files by drawing file cards through file grooves.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Spread emery powder or other polishing compounds on stone, or wet stone surfaces with hoses, and guide buffing wheels over stone to polish surfaces.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Wash grit from stone, using hoses.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about grinding and polishing workers, hand and AI

Will AI replace grinding and polishing workers, hand?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand score 4 out of 100 (low exposure), #848 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 1 of the job's 20 tasks, 1 of them on its own, while 19 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which grinding and polishing workers, hand tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Record product and processing data on specified forms".

Which grinding and polishing workers, hand tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Grind, sand, clean, or polish objects or parts to correct defects or to prepare surfaces for further finishing, using hand tools and power tools"; "Verify quality of finished workpieces by inspecting them, comparing them to templates, measuring their dimensions, or testing them in working machinery"; "Move controls to adjust, start, or stop equipment during grinding and polishing processes".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Not much yet. None of the job's tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude in April–May 2026, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as grinding and polishing workers, hand, and what do they earn?

About 10,510 people in the US, with median pay of $42,660 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.