Print jobs are at high risk of being replaced by robots with artificial intelligence in the next 20 years, with operators and sales admin first on the chopping block, according to a study.
If the predictions of the study turn out to be accurate, print business owners could find they can operate with a dramatically reduced workforce.
The Oxford University and Deloitte study includes a comprehensive ranking of the automation risk percentage of 365 jobs, and found print-related tasks are some of the most likely to be automated in the near future.
According to their algorithm, sales admins are most at risk with a 97.2 per cent chance of becoming handled by robots, followed by print finishing and binding workers at 95.1 per cent, and printers and printing machine assistants at 83.1 per cent.
Those in jobs involving managing or directing storage and warehousing are also at high risk at 59.1 per cent.
Print jobs that are more likely to still be around include business sales executives at 39.3 per cent and marketing and sales directors at a mere 1.4 per cent chance.
IT business analysts and system designers are in the safe zone, with the chance of machine usurpation at only 1.1 per cent, and graphic designers, listed at a 4.9 per cent risk.
The research says automation has already started to challenge a number of office and administrative support roles, particularly where less creativity is required.
The study predicts that the futuristic robots will soon be able to perform a wider range of complex manual tasks – including printing, binding and assembling.
Aspects of a job that make it more susceptible to automation are tasks that require a worker to assemble or manipulate objects.
The study by Oxford academics finds jobs requiring negotiation skills, empathy and creative thinking are much less likely to be replaced with artificial intelligent robots.
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