The Real Impact of AI on Job Functions — Through Kai-Fu Lee’s Lens

By Jane Chew — AI Strategy Coach | Founder, 10xAI Business Consulting

In my recent sharing, I spoke about a topic every leader needs to understand: the real impact of AI on job functions. Not from hype. Not from fear. But through a structured, realistic model — Kai-Fu Lee’s famous AI Job Impact Matrix.

Why is this important? Because every business owner, manager, and mid-career professional is asking the same question:

“Will AI take my job — or help me do it better?”

Kai-Fu Lee’s Matrix: 2 Questions That Decide Your Future

Kai-Fu Lee evaluates every job through two dimensions:

• How routine is the task? (Repetitive, rules-based, predictable?)
• Does the job require human empathy, strategy or creativity?

When you combine both, you get a 4-quadrant map that predicts which job functions will be:

• ✔ Fully automated
• ✔ Partially automated
• ✔ Augmented by AI
• ✔ Protected and enhanced by human strengths

🔹 Quadrant 1 — High Routine, Low Human Touch
→ Most Automatable

These are roles made of predictable tasks, rules, checklists, and repetitive processes.

• Data entry
• Administrative processing
• Basic customer support
• Report generation
• Scheduling, documentation, compliance tracking

AI impact: 80–100% automation

This is why small businesses suddenly feel like they have a “team of 5” with just one AI assistant — because these tasks are exactly what AI is made for.

🔹 Quadrant 2 — High Routine, High Human Touch
→ AI + Human Hybrid Jobs

These jobs have structured processes but still require empathy, trust, and communication.

• Teachers
• Nurses
• Customer success
• HR coordinators
• Financial advisors

AI will automate 40–60% of tasks — but humans remain essential.

In this zone, AI becomes your copilot: – drafting materials – summarizing conversations – analyzing data – providing recommendationsBut humans deliver the connection.

🔹 Quadrant 3 — Low Routine, High Creativity / Strategy
→ AI-Augmented Professionals

This is where midlife professionals can shine if they reinvent themselves.

• Strategists
• Business consultants
• Marketing leaders
• Innovators & product designers
• Entrepreneurs

AI accelerates your thinking — but cannot replace your judgment, domain expertise, or strategic insight.

These roles will grow in value.

🔹 Quadrant 4 — Low Routine, Low Human Touch
→ Hardest for AI to Replace

Jobs that require creativity, intuition, vision and experience.

• C-suite leaders
• Medical specialists
• Creative directors
• Senior consultants
• Professional coaches

AI supports — but does not replace — these functions.

This is where your expertise becomes your competitive advantage.

So What Does This Mean for You?

I shared this in the video, and it’s worth repeating:

AI doesn’t destroy jobs. It destroys tasks.

And if your job is mostly made of tasks that AI can do faster, cheaper, and more consistently… you must reinvent before you’re replaced.

For midlife professionals and SME leaders, the opportunity is huge:

• Shift from execution → strategy
• Shift from doing work → designing systems
• Shift from time-based value → experience-based value

The real question today is not: “Will AI take my job?” but “How quickly can I adapt?”

Leaders Must Be AI-Ready — Not to Code, But to Lead

Your role as a leader is to:

• Set the guardrails for responsible AI use
• Empower teams with AI literacy
• Redesign workflows, not just automate tasks
• Build trust and transparency in how AI is used

Because in the age of AI… leadership is no longer optional — it is the multiplier.