ATMs didn't eliminate bank tellers: why AI may reshape jobs the same way
Olivier__OG · x · 2026-10-28
The author uses ATMs as an analogy for AI's impact on jobs: automation removed routine transactions but didn't eliminate tellers—it pushed the human role toward complex service, advice and relationships.
AI may drive a similar shift across many jobs: as machines handle the repeatable parts, the value of judgment, trust, empathy, creativity and care becomes clearer. But the transition isn't automatic—some roles will shrink, some tasks will disappear, and both people and companies must adapt.
Sources: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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