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JOB REPORT / 19-4021 · 17 TASKS

Biological Technicians.

Can AI do the work of Biological Technicians?

Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS

How does this fit your work?

How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?

Drag the dot. There’s no wrong answer; it starts at our estimate.

Starting pointOur estimate

The mark shows what’s typical for this job.

The parts of your job AI can already do most of:

  • Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data…
  • Input data into databases
  • Place orders for laboratory equipment and supplies

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A guided certificate program in AI-assisted Biological Technicians work. It covers the 12 AI-affected parts of your job and ends in a capstone a person reviews.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT

Your job, task by task.

12 of 17 tasks reviewed

This job has 17 core tasks. We went through 12 of them, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Biological Technicians actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

  1. TASK 01SOURCE-BACKED TASK

    Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel.

    AI DOES

    Records data and flags anomalies automatically

    YOU DO

    Decide if results are actually meaningful

    About this analysis

    100% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

  2. TASK 02

    Input data into databases.

    AI DOES

    Auto-fills forms, validates entries, and flags errors in real time

    YOU DO

    Verify unusual readings and make judgment calls on ambiguous or missing data

  3. TASK 03

    Place orders for laboratory equipment and supplies.

    AI DOES

    Drafts purchase orders, finds vendors, tracks inventory levels, and flags low-stock items

    YOU DO

    Confirm exact specs, approve spending, and judge urgent vs. routine needs

  4. TASK 04

    Keep detailed logs of all work-related activities.

    AI DOES

    Drafts log entries, suggests formatting, and flags missing fields

    YOU DO

    Record accurate observations from real lab work you physically performed

  5. TASK 05

    Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties.

    AI DOES

    Analyzes data outputs, monitors equipment readings, and flags anomalies in automated systems

    YOU DO

    Stay hands-on to calibrate equipment, interpret unexpected results, and adapt to physical lab conditions

  6. TASK 06

    Monitor laboratory work to ensure compliance with set standards.

    AI DOES

    Scans records and logs to flag anything outside set standards

    YOU DO

    Physically watch lab work and decide if a problem needs action

  7. TASK 07

    Provide technical support and services for scientists and engineers working in fields such as agriculture, environmental science, resource management, biology, and health sciences.

    AI DOES

    Searches literature, drafts reports, and helps organize data from experiments

    YOU DO

    Handle samples, run equipment, and apply on-the-spot judgment in the lab

  8. TASK 08

    Conduct standardized biological, microbiological or biochemical tests and laboratory analyses to evaluate the quantity or quality of physical or chemical substances in food or other products.

    AI DOES

    Reviews test results, spots patterns in data, and helps interpret lab findings

    YOU DO

    Handle samples, run equipment, and apply judgment to real physical conditions

  9. TASK 09

    Conduct research, or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.

    AI DOES

    Helps search literature, organize data, and flag patterns in collected samples

    YOU DO

    Go to the field, handle specimens, and use trained judgment during collection

  10. TASK 10

    Examine animals and specimens to detect the presence of disease or other problems.

    AI DOES

    Analyzes microscopy images and lab test results to flag possible disease markers

    YOU DO

    Trust your hands-on physical exam and sensory judgment over any screen-based suggestion

  11. TASK 11SOURCE-BACKED TASK

    Participate in the research, development, or manufacturing of medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations.

    AI DOES

    Analyzes compounds and predicts drug interactions

    YOU DO

    Design trials and approve safety decisions

    About this analysis

    32% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

  12. TASK 12SOURCE-BACKED TASK

    Analyze experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings.

    AI DOES

    Processes datasets and drafts initial result summaries

    YOU DO

    Interpret meaning and draw valid conclusions

    About this analysis

    30% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

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Data sources and attribution

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. rtwoai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025). Job outlook is from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–34. BLS data are in the public domain. BLS has not reviewed or endorsed this page.

Task collaboration data is from the Anthropic Economic Index, release 2025-03-27, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Anthropic has not reviewed or endorsed this page.

How we describe AI use in each task is our own characterization, not a measurement of whether AI can replace this job. Microsoft note that their metrics "should not be misconstrued or misrepresented as measuring the ability of AI to replace jobs," and that there is more to an occupation than the sum of its tasks.