Blockchain engineering jobs are particularly threatened by automation and ChatGPT

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT could pose a significant risk to blockchain engineers due to the automation of roles, according to a new study.

Blockchain engineering roles were given a 97.1% risk score by researchers, while “web and digital interface” designers received a 100% exposure score along with accountants, auditors and financial quantitative analysts.

With the increasing capabilities and power of generative AI tools, it is possible that organizations may look to automate a significant portion of blockchain engineering tasks, posing a risk to workers.

With regard to the risk associated with blockchain roles, a key factor in this is likely due to the basic skill requirements of these specific positions.

Research from the Blockchain Council highlighted a basic understanding of cryptography, for example, as a key skill requirement for this role.

Programming language skills and a “strong background in software development” were also identified as top skills by the council.

Aside from blockchain, various other technology roles were highlighted as particularly vulnerable to automation amid the rise of generative AI technologies.

The use of tools like ChatGPT to program and help users with mathematical equations has been highlighted a lot since its launch last November.

The conclusions were drawn in a research paper published today, which examined the potential impact of large language models (LLM) on the US workforce.

It found that approximately 80% of the US workforce could have “at least 10% of their job duties affected by the introduction of GPTs”.

The research, supported by OpenAI, also found that almost a fifth (19%) of workers can see at least 50% of their tasks automated.

“Our analysis indicates that the impacts of LLMs such as GPT-4 are likely to be pervasive. While LLMs have consistently improved capabilities over time, their increasing economic impact is expected to persist and increase,” the paper said.

Higher pay means greater risk

The study found that higher-wage occupations generally face a higher risk of automation through generative AI tools, with roles requiring “programming and writing skills positively associated with LLM exposure”.

Blockchain developers typically have higher pay scales compared to software engineers, according to the Blockchain Council, meaning their roles are also at higher risk of automation based on these findings.

In the US, a blockchain engineer can expect an average salary range of between $100,000-$120,000 per year, while in the UK this is between £65k and £75k per year.

“Blockchain engineer salaries are rising day by day and the day is not far when blockchain engineer [roles] will be considered the highest paid, the council said.

Loss of jobs on the horizon?

The publication of this research comes amid a period of continued fear over the potential risk to jobs posed by generative AI tools in recent months.

Elsewhere in the wider global technology industry, the use of ChatGPT has been singled out as a risk for a number of roles – particularly in marketing and content creation.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has also been vocal on this topic, noting that while there are significant benefits to using ChatGPT, for example, there are associated risks.

In a recent interview with ABC NewsAltman told the publication that he was “a little scared” of the future potential of AI tools, warning that they could seriously disrupt the workforce as organizations seek to automate a range of roles.

“It’s going to eliminate a lot of current jobs, that’s true,” he said. “We can make much better. The reason for developing AI at all is that I think this will be – in terms of impact on our lives and improvement of our lives and benefits – will be the greatest technology that humanity has developed to date .