Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists

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: 4 (15%)
• AI can speed this up with extra software: 19 (73%)
• Little or no AI speed-up: 3 (12%)

• Prepare reports or presentations summarizing results or conclusions of human factors engineering or ergonomics activities, such as testing, investigation, or validation.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
• Conduct interviews or surveys of users or customers to collect information on topics, such as requirements, needs, fatigue, ergonomics, or interfaces.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
• Write, review, or comment on documents, such as proposals, test plans, or procedures.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
• Perform statistical analyses, such as social network pattern analysis, network modeling, discrete event simulation, agent-based modeling, statistical natural language processing, computational sociology, mathematical optimization, or systems dynamics.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
• Design or evaluate human work systems, using human factors engineering and ergonomic principles to optimize usability, cost, quality, safety, or performance.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Develop or implement human performance research, investigation, or analysis protocols.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
• Recommend workplace changes to improve health and safety, using knowledge of potentially harmful factors, such as heavy loads or repetitive motions.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
• Inspect work sites to identify physical hazards.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Collect data through direct observation of work activities or witnessing the conduct of tests.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Provide technical support to clients through activities, such as rearranging workplace fixtures to reduce physical hazards or discomfort or modifying task sequences to reduce cycle time.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Perform functional, task, or anthropometric analysis, using tools, such as checklists, surveys, videotaping, or force measurement.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Advocate for end users in collaboration with other professionals, including engineers, designers, managers, or customers.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Establish system operating or training requirements to ensure optimized human-machine interfaces.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
• Develop or implement research methodologies or statistical analysis plans to test and evaluate developmental prototypes used in new products or processes, such as cockpit designs, user workstations, or computerized human models.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
• Assess the user-interface or usability characteristics of products.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
• Review health, safety, accident, or worker compensation records to evaluate safety program effectiveness or to identify jobs with high incidence of injury.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Conduct research to evaluate potential solutions related to changes in equipment design, procedures, manpower, personnel, or training.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Analyze complex systems to determine potential for further development, production, interoperability, compatibility, or usefulness in a particular area, such as aviation.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Estimate time or resource requirements for ergonomic or human factors research or development projects.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Apply modeling or quantitative analysis to forecast events, such as human decisions or behaviors, the structure or processes of organizations, or the attitudes or actions of human groups.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
• Provide human factors technical expertise on topics, such as advanced user-interface technology development or the role of human users in automated or autonomous sub-systems in advanced vehicle systems.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Design cognitive aids, such as procedural storyboards or decision support systems.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
• Investigate theoretical or conceptual issues, such as the human design considerations of lunar landers or habitats.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
• Integrate human factors requirements into operational hardware.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Train users in task techniques or ergonomic principles.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Operate testing equipment, such as heat stress meters, octave band analyzers, motion analysis equipment, inclinometers, light meters, thermoanemometers, sling psychrometers, or colorimetric detection tubes.Little or no AI speed-up · core task