AI-Proof Careers: 5 Trades That Stay Human
AI-proof careers from a window cleaner since 1999: the 5 trades I respect, why each one needs a human, and which one I would tell my own children to learn.
People ask me which careers are AI proof. I do not know the statistics. I am a window cleaner, and I look at it from the job. So here are five trades I respect, and why I think each one stays human.
TL;DR
- My five AI-proof careers: window cleaner, carpet cleaner, car detailer, plumber and carpenter. House cleaning is another one.
- What they share: hand skills, different tools for different situations, and real homes and real objects that keep changing.
- A machine can do some of it. Moving furniture and working around what is there is much harder.
The five trades
- Window cleaner. You work in people's homes, on many types of glass. Put a scraper blade to certain windows and you instantly scratch them. You have to know the difference.
- Carpet cleaner. A loose rug might go to a machine. A fixed carpet with furniture standing on it is not simple. The furniture needs to be moved, and there are many things to consider.
- Car detailer. You can put a car through a car wash, but car washes are destructive to the paint. I do not think a robot will get into as many angles and nooks and crannies on a car that needs to be highly detailed and looked after.
- Plumber. A plumber needs a real collection of tools to cover everything from the old pipes to the new ones.
- Carpenter. Another trade where you need fine hand skills and need to know how to use different tools.
House cleaning is another one I would add.
What all five have in common
You need to be nuanced with certain hand skills, and you need to know how to operate different tools for your trade. And they are all individually needed.
What I see in all of them is the same problem for a robot. It is not the cleaning or the fixing on its own. It is everything around it. The furniture that has to be moved. The angles. The one surface you must not touch with the wrong tool. How that will be looked after by a robot, I do not know, and I see it being a problem for a long time.
Which one I would tell my own children to learn
I am the dad, and I am the founder of Orloff's Window Cleaning. So I would say window cleaning, because we already have a good grasp of the market. But if they were considering other trades, they should make their own decision.
That is my honest answer, and you should weigh it knowing I am in this business.
Where to start
If you want to find out what a hand skill feels like, start free with the Manifesto. When you are ready for the full technique, The Skill is $69.
Related guides
- Jobs AI cannot do: why I clean windows by hand
- High paying jobs without a degree: the honest numbers
- Career change at 40: what I would do
- How to start a window cleaning business
Frequently Asked Questions
Finding this useful?
What careers are AI proof?
I can only speak from my own trade, and I do not know the statistics. I would name window cleaning, carpet cleaning, car detailing, plumbing and carpentry. House cleaning is another one. They all need hand skills in real places that keep changing.
Could a robot clean carpets or detail a car?
A loose rug might go to a machine. A fixed carpet with furniture on it is much harder. A car wash can clean a car, but it is destructive to the paint, and I do not think a robot will get into every angle of a car that needs to be highly detailed.
Which trade would you recommend to your own children?
Window cleaning, because I am in the business and we already have a good grasp of the market. But they should make their own decision.
About the author
Justin Orloff is a professional window cleaner since 1999, based in Vienna, Austria. He created the world's first AR-powered window cleaning training program at orloffs.com.
Cleaning Since 1999, Digitally Made Accessible: My industry insights are 100% human-driven. Because I live with dyslexia, I use AI tools to ensure my master experience since 1999 is polished and readable. To my Editorial Policy
Was this article written by AI?
Yes. AI helps me polish and format my writing because I'm dyslexic. The experience, techniques, and opinions are entirely my own. Full details in my Editorial Policy.