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Biochemists and Biophysicists

Biochemists and Biophysicists score 45 out of 100, which is elevated exposure to AI. That ranks #334 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 24 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 3 on its own and 15 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 3 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

45/ 100
Elevated
Rank
#334of 923 jobs
US workers
33,830BLS, May 2025
Median pay
$127,410a year
In real AI use
3 of 24tasks, April–May 2026

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: 3 (13%)
  • AI can speed this up with extra software: 15 (63%)
  • Little or no AI speed-up: 6 (25%)
  • Share research findings by writing scientific articles or by making presentations at scientific conferences.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
  • Write grant proposals to obtain funding for research.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Prepare reports or recommendations, based upon research outcomes.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Teach or advise undergraduate or graduate students or supervise their research.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Study physical principles of living cells or organisms and their electrical or mechanical energy, applying methods and knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, or biology.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Manage laboratory teams or monitor the quality of a team's work.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Develop new methods to study the mechanisms of biological processes.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Determine the three-dimensional structure of biological macromolecules.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Study spatial configurations of submicroscopic molecules, such as proteins, using x-rays or electron microscopes.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Study the chemistry of living processes, such as cell development, breathing and digestion, or living energy changes, such as growth, aging, or death.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Study the mutations in organisms that lead to cancer or other diseases.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Research the chemical effects of substances, such as drugs, serums, hormones, or food, on tissues or vital processes.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Develop or execute tests to detect diseases, genetic disorders, or other abnormalities.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Develop or test new drugs or medications intended for commercial distribution.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Examine the molecular or chemical aspects of immune system functioning.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Research how characteristics of plants or animals are carried through successive generations.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Develop methods to process, store, or use foods, drugs, or chemical compounds.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Investigate the nature, composition, or expression of genes or research how genetic engineering can impact these processes.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Design or perform experiments with equipment, such as lasers, accelerators, or mass spectrometers.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Design or build laboratory equipment needed for special research projects.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Research transformations of substances in cells, using atomic isotopes.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Isolate, analyze, or synthesize vitamins, hormones, allergens, minerals, or enzymes and determine their effects on body functions.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Prepare pharmaceutical compounds for commercial distribution.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Produce pharmaceutically or industrially useful proteins, using recombinant DNA technology.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

Similar jobs, lower exposure

Related occupations that score at least 10 points lower.

Other jobs in this field

Life, Physical, and Social Science occupations close to this one.

Questions about biochemists and biophysicists and AI

Will AI replace biochemists and biophysicists?

Not entirely. Parts of the job are likely to change as AI takes over routine tasks. Biochemists and Biophysicists score 45 out of 100 (elevated exposure), #334 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 18 of the job's 24 tasks, 3 of them on its own, while 6 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which biochemists and biophysicists tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Share research findings by writing scientific articles or by making presentations at scientific conferences"; "Write grant proposals to obtain funding for research"; "Prepare reports or recommendations, based upon research outcomes".

Which biochemists and biophysicists tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Design or perform experiments with equipment, such as lasers, accelerators, or mass spectrometers"; "Design or build laboratory equipment needed for special research projects"; "Research transformations of substances in cells, using atomic isotopes".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 3 of the 24 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

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

About 33,830 people in the US, with median pay of $127,410 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.

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