Karpathy's AI scores flag high-pay jobs as most exposed
Source: fortune.com
TL;DR
- Andrej Karpathy's quick AI analysis scores U.S. jobs on vulnerability to AI using BLS data.
- High-paying jobs over $100,000 average 6.7 exposure on 0-10 scale; overall weighted score is 4.9.
- White-collar roles face higher risk than manual jobs, though Karpathy pulled the chart after misinterpretations.
The story at a glance
Andrej Karpathy, OpenAI cofounder and former Tesla AI director, posted then removed an interactive chart scoring 342 U.S. occupations for AI exposure. The chart used Bureau of Labor Statistics data and showed high-paying white-collar jobs as most vulnerable. Fortune reported it amid fears of AI-driven job losses. This comes as companies cite AI in layoffs and reports like Anthropic's highlight risks to educated workers.
Key points
- Karpathy's "vibe coded" project assigned scores from 0 (low exposure) to 10 (high); overall weighted average across jobs was 4.9.
- Jobs paying over $100,000 averaged 6.7; those under $35,000 averaged 3.4.
- High scores of 9 went to software developers, computer programmers, database administrators, data scientists, mathematicians, financial analysts, paralegals, writers, editors, graphic designers, and market researchers.
- Low scores of 1-2 for construction laborers, roofers, painters, janitors, ironworkers, grounds maintenance workers, home healthcare aides, nursing assistants, massage therapists, dental hygienists, veterinary assistants, manicurists, barbers, and bartenders.
- Karpathy took down the chart, saying it was a two-hour Saturday project wildly misinterpreted despite docs.[[1]](https://fortune.com/2026/03/15/andrej-karpathy-openai-cofounder-us-labor-market-exposure-ai-white-collar-jobs-professionals/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ_wBdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEOVpzcDhnamlTTGhRazZyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjsZXU-ocMND2O_l6DmMjCuvWGKpNDKYX3h8v8OFPqlOCb5jogxgpd5GvPe4_aem_5Sd4LxK663UKJhnuAxMilg)[[2]](https://fortune.com/2026/03/15/andrej-karpathy-openai-cofounder-us-labor-market-exposure-ai-white-collar-jobs-professionals)
- AI tools now handle number-crunching and content creation in minutes; firms need fewer entry-level workers and some layoffs cite AI.
Details and context
Karpathy's tool visualized BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook data for 143 million jobs in a treemap, with color for AI exposure based on prompts assessing digital, laptop-based work.[[1]](https://fortune.com/2026/03/15/andrej-karpathy-openai-cofounder-us-labor-market-exposure-ai-white-collar-jobs-professionals/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ_wBdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEOVpzcDhnamlTTGhRazZyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjsZXU-ocMND2O_l6DmMjCuvWGKpNDKYX3h8v8OFPqlOCb5jogxgpd5GvPe4_aem_5Sd4LxK663UKJhnuAxMilg) It echoed Anthropic's recent report, which found AI could cover most tasks in business, finance, management, computer science, math, legal, and office roles, though actual adoption lags; risks highest for older, highly educated, well-paid workers.[[1]](https://fortune.com/2026/03/15/andrej-karpathy-openai-cofounder-us-labor-market-exposure-ai-white-collar-jobs-professionals/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ_wBdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEOVpzcDhnamlTTGhRazZyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjsZXU-ocMND2O_l6DmMjCuvWGKpNDKYX3h8v8OFPqlOCb5jogxgpd5GvPe4_aem_5Sd4LxK663UKJhnuAxMilg)
A viral Citrini Research essay warned of AI destroying the economy, but Citadel Securities countered with Indeed data showing software engineer demand up 11% year-over-year in 2026, stable generative AI use, and AI data centers boosting construction jobs.[[1]](https://fortune.com/2026/03/15/andrej-karpathy-openai-cofounder-us-labor-market-exposure-ai-white-collar-jobs-professionals/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ_wBdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEOVpzcDhnamlTTGhRazZyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjsZXU-ocMND2O_l6DmMjCuvWGKpNDKYX3h8v8OFPqlOCb5jogxgpd5GvPe4_aem_5Sd4LxK663UKJhnuAxMilg)
Skeptics say AI excuses pandemic overhiring; economic limits like rising compute costs could cap substitution if they exceed labor costs.
Key quotes
“This was a saturday morning 2 hour vibe coded project inspired by a book I’m reading... It’s been wildly misinterpreted (which I should have anticipated even despite the readme docs) so I took it down.”[[1]](https://fortune.com/2026/03/15/andrej-karpathy-openai-cofounder-us-labor-market-exposure-ai-white-collar-jobs-professionals/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ_wBdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEOVpzcDhnamlTTGhRazZyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjsZXU-ocMND2O_l6DmMjCuvWGKpNDKYX3h8v8OFPqlOCb5jogxgpd5GvPe4_aem_5Sd4LxK663UKJhnuAxMilg) — Andrej Karpathy on X.
Why it matters
AI exposure patterns spotlight risks to knowledge work, fueling debates on labor shifts as tools advance. White-collar professionals may see productivity gains but entry-level roles and high-skill niches like coding face pressure; businesses could hire fewer juniors. Watch AI adoption data, job postings, and economic reports for real displacement signals, as current evidence shows limited immediate impact.