AI exposure score

Security Guards

Security Guards score 17 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #663 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 14 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 2 on its own and 0 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 1 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

17/ 100

Low

Rank: #663of 923 jobs
US workers: 1,283,470BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $38,020a year
In real AI use: 1 of 14tasks, 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: 2 (14%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 0 (0%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 12 (86%)

Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Answer telephone calls to take messages, answer questions, and provide information during non-business hours or when switchboard is closed.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency, such as fire or presence of unauthorized persons.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Warn persons of rule infractions or violations, and apprehend or evict violators from premises, using force when necessary.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Operate detecting devices to screen individuals and prevent passage of prohibited articles into restricted areas.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Inspect and adjust security systems, equipment, or machinery to ensure operational use and to detect evidence of tampering.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Escort or drive motor vehicle to transport individuals to specified locations or to provide personal protection.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Monitor and adjust controls that regulate building systems, such as air conditioning, furnace, or boiler.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about security guards and AI

Will AI replace security guards?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Security Guards score 17 out of 100 (low exposure), #663 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 2 of the job's 14 tasks, 2 of them on its own, while 12 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which security guards tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences"; "Answer telephone calls to take messages, answer questions, and provide information during non-business hours or when switchboard is closed".

Which security guards tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings"; "Answer alarms and investigate disturbances"; "Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 1 of the 14 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

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

About 1,283,470 people in the US, with median pay of $38,020 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.