The 41 broad activities all work is built from
41 Generalized Work Activities · O*NET
Every job O*NET describes is built from the same 41 Generalized Work Activities — the broadest layer of its work-activity hierarchy. Each splits into more specific intermediate activities (332 in all) and then into detailed activities. This page is the parent map: pick a broad activity to see the occupations that rate it most important, the intermediate activities it contains, and how often AI performs it today.
AI is applied most to
AI is applied least to
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Monitoring and Controlling Resources
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
- Developing Objectives and Strategies
"Applied most/least" averages, across each group's measured intermediate activities, how often AI performs them in Microsoft's Bing Copilot study — where AI shows up today, not a forecast of automation.
All activity groups
Ranked by average O*NET importance (1–5) across the occupations rated on each.
A–Z
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Coaching and Developing Others
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
- Developing and Building Teams
- Developing Objectives and Strategies
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Getting Information
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Monitoring and Controlling Resources
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Performing Administrative Activities
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Processing Information
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
- Scheduling Work and Activities
- Selling or Influencing Others
- Staffing Organizational Units
- Thinking Creatively
- Training and Teaching Others
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Working with Computers