Section 07
Artificial Intelligence
& The Workforce
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to be a highly disruptive force within the existing tech workforce. AI enables machines to perform tasks that require human cognition, such as learning, decision-making, and problem-solving
The most prominent public-facing product, ChatGPT, launched in November 2022 and reached 100 million users within two months. By mid-2025, the platform had approximately 800 million active weekly users. A Pew Research Center survey found that about 34% of U.S. adults had used ChatGPT in 2025—roughly double the usage reported in a 2023 survey. ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) have become some of the most rapidly adopted technological advancements of our time.
AI Overview
AI extends far beyond ChatGPT, encompassing transformative applications across a wide range of industries. In healthcare, AI systems such as IBM Watson Health analyze vast datasets to support personalized treatment planning and disease prediction. In manufacturing, AI-powered robotics optimize production efficiency and quality control. In finance, AI drives fraud detection systems and algorithmic trading platforms, enhancing both security and operational performance.
The rapid diffusion of AI has led to its widespread adoption across the workforce. According to data from Anthropic (the company that developed the LLM Claude), computer and mathematics workers in North Carolina use Claude for approximately 18 percent of their tasks. Unlike previous efficiency technologies, LLMs automate tasks performed by knowledge workers, including writing, editing, and problem-solving. Despite the state’s higher concentration of knowledge work, North Carolina had a lower-than-predicted usage score and ranked only 21st in usage across all states.
The debate over whether new AI tools will automate tasks and replace workers, or merely augment tasks to increase efficiency, is ongoing among researchers. Some studies warn that AI could replace substantial portions of the workforce, while others suggest that AI may generate productivity gains with little to no impact on overall employment. This section reviews the research and presents a range of tech jobs in North Carolina that could be exposed to AI.
First and foremost, AI is a core technology that is expanding the potential offerings of traditional tech companies. This expansion can create new opportunities for these firms and generate additional demand. Harvard economist Jason Furman recently reported that almost all U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025 was driven by AI-related investments, including spending on the data centers required to power current and future AI products. Without this investment, GDP growth during this period could have been as low as 0.1 percent compared with the previous year. AI investment is currently carrying the U.S. economy and could be a crucial driver of future growth.