How AI is actually used at work: Analyzing millions of interactions

A recent study has revealed how and where artificial intelligence (AI) is actually being used in various economic tasks, based on the analysis of millions of conversations on Claude.ai . Researchers have detected clear trends that illustrate how professionals across different sectors are incorporating these tools into their daily work.

The most notable findings are clear: software development and writing lead the practical use of AI. These two activities alone account for nearly 50% of the total uses analyzed. Software engineers, data scientists, and technical writers are the most frequent users of AI, primarily for repetitive tasks such as debugging code, writing technical texts, or improving application performance.

But AI's influence isn't limited to these sectors. More than a third of the professions analyzed (36%) already use artificial intelligence in at least a quarter of their daily tasks. Although this adoption is uneven, professions further removed from technology, such as construction or direct healthcare, still show little use, mainly due to the current technical limitations of these tools.

Another interesting revelation is how people interact with AI: they don't just delegate tasks, they actively collaborate with the tool. In fact, the majority (57%) prefer to use AI to support them in improving or perfecting their own results, while 43% choose to completely automate certain tasks, delegating almost all execution to the assistant.

Research also shows that professionals who make the most use of AI tend to have middle- to upper-middle-income levels and considerable university training, typically in technical or analytical fields such as programming or data analysis. In contrast, professions that require direct physical contact, as well as highly specialized ones, such as medicine or manual labor, show less use of AI for obvious reasons.

The most common skills required of AI are clearly linked to critical thinking, writing, and programming. In contrast, tasks that require very specific physical skills or personal interactions, such as negotiation, are still largely beyond the current reach of these tools.

In short, this research offers a real-life snapshot of how AI is being integrated into different work sectors and clearly identifies where and how its use is generating the first significant changes. This knowledge is key to anticipating future transformations and adjusting labor and business policies quickly and effectively.

Source: Anthropic - Which Economic Tasks are Performed with AI?