Jobs that people once thought were irreplaceable are now just memories

2026-05-11 · Source: Artificial Intelligence · Field: Business & Management — Human Resources & Workforce Development, Operations & Process Management · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, long

Summary

A discussion initiated by Reddit user cookerdoer highlights 20 historical professions that no longer exist, illustrating how technological advancements and societal shifts have consistently reshaped the workforce. Examples include Knocker-Uppers, who woke people before alarm clocks; Lamplighters, responsible for street illumination; and Resurrectionists, who supplied cadavers to medical schools. Other vanished roles include Lectors, who read to factory workers; Switchboard Operators; Pin Setters in bowling alleys; Ice Cutters; Milkmen; Typist Pool Workers; Telegraph Operators; Elevator Operators; Log Drivers; and Human Computers, who performed manual calculations. The conversation extends to the potential impact of AI on current jobs, with some users noting that many IT tasks from five years ago are already automated, while others debate the timeline for AI achieving general intelligence capable of replacing most white-collar work.

Key takeaway

For professionals in rapidly evolving sectors like IT, you should proactively assess which of your current tasks are most susceptible to automation. Consider upskilling in areas that require complex problem-solving, creativity, or interpersonal interaction, as these are less likely to be fully automated in the near term. Staying adaptable and continuously learning new technologies will be crucial for career longevity.

Key insights

Technological and societal evolution consistently renders professions obsolete, a trend now accelerating with AI.

Principles

• Jobs evolve with societal needs and technological progress.
• Automation frequently replaces manual and repetitive labor.
• Human ingenuity continuously reshapes the workforce.

In practice

• Review historical job shifts to understand future workforce trends.
• Identify tasks susceptible to automation in your current role.

Topics

• Obsolete Professions
• AI Job Displacement
• Workforce Automation
• Technological Evolution
• Historical Occupations

Best for: General Interest, Executive, Consultant

Related on AIssential

• The big AI job swap: why white-collar workers are ditching their careers — AI is driving a significant career shift from white-collar professional roles to more resilient, hands-on trades.
• The haves and have nots of the AI gold rush — The AI boom creates significant wealth disparity and job insecurity within the tech industry.
• the age of execution is ending — Success in an AI world requires cultivating "unpromptable" skills that AI cannot replicate or automate.
• Time to retrain? How to future-proof your career in the AI age — Integrating AI fluency with existing domain expertise is a resilient career strategy amidst automation.
• Technology and Humanity — AI represents a transformative technological revolution demanding societal and business adaptation to avoid obsolescence.
• The AI Wake-Up Call Everyone Needs Right Now! — AI's exponential progress, driven by self-improvement, is rapidly transforming professional work and societal structures.

Open in AIssential →

Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Artificial Intelligence.