Write programs in the language of a machine's controller and store programs on media, such as punch tapes, magnetic tapes, or disks.

“Write programs in the language of a machine's controller and store programs on media, such as punch tapes, magnetic tapes, or disks.” is a core task performed by Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers. Among the occupation's 16 rated tasks, workers place it 13th by importance (#4 most important). About 78% of workers say it is relevant to their job.

This is a single occupation-specific task statement from O*NET. The figures below describe how central the task is to the job and what independent studies measure about AI and this kind of work — not a prediction that the task will be automated.

Work activities this task rolls up to

O*NET groups concrete tasks into broader work activities shared across many occupations.

• Program computer systems or production equipment. in Working with Computers

AI exposure

The OpenAI / Eloundou “GPTs are GPTs” study rates this task E1. Direct exposure — a language model could plausibly cut the time to do this task by at least half.

Exposure measures whether a model could meaningfully speed the task up — it is an estimate of overlap with model capabilities, not a measure of whether the work will be done by software. The study's intermediate score (β) for this task is 1.00. Automation potential label: T3.

How AI is actually used on this kind of task

The Anthropic Economic Index observes how people actually use AI on tasks like this one across millions of real conversations.

• 0.17% share of AI-use records mapped to this task
• 49% of that use is work-related
• Most common interaction: directive
• Average autonomy of the AI: 3.7 (1–5; higher = more autonomous)
• 63% of interactions still needed a human in the loop

Observed AI use describes people choosing to use AI as a tool on this kind of task today. It is augmentation and assistance, not a measure of jobs replaced.

Working with AI vs. handing it off

Of the AI conversations mapped to this task, the split between people working alongside AI and people delegating the task to it.

How people interact with AI on this task

Other tasks in this occupation

• Determine the sequence of machine operations, and select the proper cutting tools needed to machine workpieces into the desired shapes. · importance 4.6
• Analyze job orders, drawings, blueprints, specifications, printed circuit board pattern films, and design data to calculate dimensions, tool selection, machine speeds, and feed rates. · importance 4.5
• Observe machines on trial runs or conduct computer simulations to ensure that programs and machinery will function properly and produce items that meet specifications. · importance 4.4
• Determine reference points, machine cutting paths, or hole locations, and compute angular and linear dimensions, radii, and curvatures. · importance 4.3
• Enter computer commands to store or retrieve parts patterns, graphic displays, or programs that transfer data to other media. · importance 4.2
• Revise programs or tapes to eliminate errors, and retest programs to check that problems have been solved. · importance 4.2
• Modify existing programs to enhance efficiency. · importance 4.1
• Enter coordinates of hole locations into program memories by depressing pedals or buttons of programmers. · importance 4.0
• Sort shop orders into groups to maximize materials utilization and minimize machine setup time. · importance 3.8
• Compare encoded tapes or computer printouts with original part specifications and blueprints to verify accuracy of instructions. · importance 3.8
• Prepare geometric layouts from graphic displays, using computer-assisted drafting software or drafting instruments and graph paper. · importance 3.8
• Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on machines. · importance 3.7
• Write instruction sheets and cutter lists for a machine's controller to guide setup and encode numerical control tapes. · importance 3.5
• Align and secure pattern film on reference tables of optical programmers, and observe enlarger scope views of printed circuit boards. · importance 3.3

See all tasks on the Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers page.

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-task-11966,
  title  = {Write programs in the language of a machine's controller and store programs on media, such as punch tapes, magnetic tapes, or disks.},
  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/tasks/task-11966}
}