Operate computer systems.

Operate computer systems. is a detailed work activity in O*NET — a concrete unit of work shared across 10 occupations and seen in 11 occupation-specific tasks. It rolls up into the broader work activity Operate computer systems or computerized equipment. in Working with Computers .

Detailed work activities are the most granular shared layer in O*NET's work-activity hierarchy (Generalized → Intermediate → Detailed → occupation-specific task). The figures below describe how this activity shows up across the economy and what independent studies measure about AI and this kind of work — not a prediction that the work will be automated.

AI exposure

Of the 11 tasks under this activity that the OpenAI / Eloundou “GPTs are GPTs” study rated, 11 (100%) are flagged as directly exposed to language models (E1) or exposed via model-powered tools (E2).

The Anthropic Economic Index observes real AI use on 4 of these tasks, with a mean mapped-usage share of 0.091% per task.

Exposure estimates overlap with model capabilities — whether a model could speed the task up — not whether the work will be done by software. Observed AI use is augmentation and assistance today, not jobs replaced.

Member tasks

Occupation-specific tasks O*NET maps to this detailed work activity, most important first.

• Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis. · Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians · importance 4.4 · direct LLM exposure
• Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment, such as a computer. · Correctional Officers and Jailers · importance 4.3 · direct LLM exposure
• Operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform electronics engineering tasks. · Electronics Engineers, Except Computer · importance 4.0 · direct LLM exposure
• Operate and manage land-information computer systems, performing tasks such as storing data, making inquiries, and producing plots and reports. · Surveying and Mapping Technicians · importance 4.0 · exposure with tools
• Locate files relating to specified design project in database library, load program into computer, and record completed job data. · Electrical and Electronics Drafters · importance 3.9 · exposure with tools
• Build and update digital databases. · Cartographers and Photogrammetrists · importance 3.8 · exposure with tools
• Operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform engineering tasks. · Electrical Engineers · importance 3.8 · direct LLM exposure
• Create, populate, or maintain databases for tracking validation activities, test results, or validated systems. · Validation Engineers · importance 3.8 · direct LLM exposure
• Key and program specified commands and engineering specifications into computer system to change functions and test final layout. · Electrical and Electronics Drafters · importance 3.6 · direct LLM exposure
• Integrate software or hardware components, using computer, microprocessor, or control architecture. · Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians · importance 3.4 · direct LLM exposure
• Write or install energy management routines for building automation systems. · Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar · importance 3.3 · direct LLM exposure

Occupations that perform this

• Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
• Correctional Officers and Jailers
• Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
• Surveying and Mapping Technicians
• Electrical and Electronics Drafters
• Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
• Electrical Engineers
• Validation Engineers
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar

Sources for this page

Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.

• O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
• Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27) Anthropic
• “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic

Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.

@misc{singulariki-operate-computer-systems,
  title  = {Operate computer systems.},
  author = {{Singulariki}},
  year   = {2026},
  note   = {O*NET 30.3; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026},
  url    = {https://singulariki.com/detailed-activities/operate-computer-systems}
}