Will AI Replace Information Clerks? What the Data Actually Shows
Information clerks face a 48% automation risk and 58% AI exposure by 2025. With phone and email inquiries at 72% automation potential, this role is transforming fast — but not disappearing.
72%. That is the automation rate for one of the most common tasks information clerks perform every day — answering inquiries by phone and email. If you work in this role, that number probably does not surprise you. You have already seen chatbots and automated response systems creeping into your workplace. But what does the full picture really look like?
Let us walk through what the data says about the future of information clerks — and what it means for the roughly 162,400 people currently working in this field across the United States.
The Numbers Behind the Headlines
According to our analysis based on the Anthropic labor market report, information clerks currently have an overall AI exposure of 58% and an automation risk of 48% as of 2025. [Fact] That is notably higher than the average across all occupations, placing this role in the "high exposure" category.
But here is where it gets interesting. There is a significant gap between what AI could theoretically do and what it is actually doing right now. The theoretical exposure sits at 78%, but observed real-world exposure is only 39%. [Fact] That gap represents a kind of buffer — the difference between technology that exists in a lab and technology that workplaces have actually deployed.
By 2028, projections show overall exposure climbing to 72% and automation risk reaching 62%. [Estimate] That is a steep trajectory, but it does not mean the job vanishes. It means the job transforms.
Which Tasks Are Most at Risk?
Not all parts of this job face the same level of disruption. Responding to inquiries via phone and email carries the highest automation rate at 72%. [Fact] Think about it — AI-powered chatbots, automated email responders, and voice assistants can already handle a large share of routine questions. When someone calls to ask about office hours, return policies, or appointment availability, AI handles that increasingly well.
Maintaining information databases comes in at 58% automation. [Fact] Data entry, record updates, and database management are exactly the kinds of structured, repetitive tasks where AI excels. Many organizations have already moved to automated data synchronization and AI-assisted record keeping.
The task with the lowest automation rate? Directing visitors and providing in-person directions, at just 25%. [Fact] Physical presence, reading body language, and handling the unpredictable nature of face-to-face interactions still belong firmly in human territory. This is the part of the role where your human judgment matters most.
The Bigger Picture: A Declining Field
Here is where the situation gets more concerning. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a -6% decline in employment for this occupation through 2034. [Fact] That means roughly 9,700 fewer positions over the next decade. Combined with a median annual wage of $39,800, this role faces a challenging combination: rising automation pressure on a field that is already shrinking.
That said, declining does not mean disappearing. Even in 2034, there will still be well over 100,000 information clerk positions. The role is shifting from pure information delivery — which AI does efficiently — toward a more nuanced position that blends customer service judgment with technology management.
What You Can Do Right Now
If you are an information clerk today, the smartest move is not to fear AI but to position yourself alongside it. The data shows this is a "mixed" automation mode role, meaning some tasks get automated while others get augmented. [Fact] Workers who learn to manage AI tools — supervising chatbot responses, handling escalated inquiries that AI cannot resolve, and ensuring database accuracy — will find themselves more valuable, not less.
Consider building skills in customer experience management, CRM platforms, and basic data analytics. The information clerks who thrive in 2028 will not be the ones competing with chatbots on speed. They will be the ones handling the 28% of interactions that require human empathy, complex problem-solving, and judgment that no algorithm can replicate.
For a full breakdown of task-level automation data for this occupation, visit the information clerks detail page.
AI-assisted analysis based on the Anthropic economic impact report (2026), BLS occupational projections, and ONET task classifications.*