Computer Research Scientist: AI job impact
AI can help explore implementations and formalize hypotheses. Research validity, novelty and experimental design depend on independent investigation.
AI applicability
0.169 / 1
How applicable AI was to this occupation’s work in Microsoft’s study. This is an index, not a probability.
Observed activity coverage
51.8%
Share of work activities above the study’s usage threshold, weighted by importance. Not the share of workers using AI.
Covers computer and information research. AI research is a specialty, not a separate published estimate.
Microsoft v1.1 · U.S. Bing Copilot conversations, Jan–Sep 2024. These indicators do not predict job losses and do not change with your task selections. Measurement details
Your daily tasks
Set how often you do each task to update your task mix, plan and tool suggestions.
Frequency weights: occasionally 1, regularly 2, often 3. These shares do not represent working hours, time saved or job-loss risk.
AI roles are AI IDE List editorial assessments of O*NET tasks, not measured automation rates. Partial automation requires review.
Explore computational solutions
Draft candidate implementations; test correctness and complexity on known cases.
Task source
O*NET original task statement (English)
Analyze problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software.
O*NET 31.0, task 14623 · Importance 4.24 / 5. View occupation tasks
Schedule research work
Draft milestones; prioritize experiments according to uncertainty and available resources.
Task source
O*NET original task statement (English)
Assign or schedule tasks to meet work priorities and goals.
O*NET 31.0, task 14624 · Importance 3.76 / 5. View occupation tasks
Evaluate research proposals
Organize feasibility questions; verify premises, prior work and resource requirements.
Task source
O*NET original task statement (English)
Evaluate project plans and proposals to assess feasibility issues.
O*NET 31.0, task 14625 · Importance 3.46 / 5. View occupation tasks
Develop new computational methods
Use AI to explore hypotheses; establish novelty and validity through independent analysis and experiments.
Task source
O*NET original task statement (English)
Apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses.
O*NET 31.0, task 14626 · Importance 3.89 / 5. View occupation tasks
Gather system requirements
Prepare questions; confirm the research problem and constraints with stakeholders.
Task source
O*NET original task statement (English)
Consult with users, management, vendors, and technicians to determine computing needs and system requirements.
O*NET 31.0, task 14627 · Importance 3.35 / 5. View occupation tasks
Coordinate research collaboration
Draft a shared agenda; resolve ownership and collaboration decisions with participants.
Task source
O*NET original task statement (English)
Meet with managers, vendors, and others to solicit cooperation and resolve problems.
O*NET 31.0, task 14628 · Importance 3.64 / 5. View occupation tasks
Formulate computational models
Draft a model and implementation; check assumptions, dimensions and behavior against a baseline.
Task source
O*NET original task statement (English)
Conduct logical analyses of business, scientific, engineering, and other technical problems, formulating mathematical models of problems for solution by computers.
O*NET 31.0, task 14629 · Importance 3.61 / 5. View occupation tasks
Interpret research policies and goals
Summarize source documents; resolve ambiguities with the responsible organization.
Task source
O*NET original task statement (English)
Develop and interpret organizational goals, policies, and procedures.
O*NET 31.0, task 14630 · Importance 3.20 / 5. View occupation tasks
Your selections are saved in this browser. Sharing a link includes only the occupation and selected frequencies.
Your AI adaptation plan
Start with one recurring task. Test the output before expanding the workflow.
Review generated code
For: Explore computational solutions
- Prepare
- Start with a small task, a stated interface and acceptance criteria.
- Try
- Draft candidate implementations; test correctness and complexity on known cases.
- Verify
- Inspect the diff, run independent tests and check dependencies before using the change.
Review AI-generated plans
For: Schedule research work
- Prepare
- List the decision, constraints, dependencies and known resource limits.
- Try
- Draft milestones; prioritize experiments according to uncertainty and available resources.
- Verify
- Confirm estimates and commitments with their owners; record unresolved assumptions.
Check evidence and uncertainty
For: Evaluate research proposals
- Prepare
- Define the question and provide primary sources with publication dates.
- Try
- Organize feasibility questions; verify premises, prior work and resource requirements.
- Verify
- Open original sources, check scope and separate findings from assumptions.
Build reproducible research experiments
State a testable hypothesis, implement a baseline and preserve inputs, environment and evaluation code so another researcher can repeat the result.
Skills and career outlook
Skills in the occupation data
Importance · 1–5- Critical Thinking4.00 / 5
- Complex Problem Solving4.00 / 5
- Judgment and Decision Making4.00 / 5
- Reading Comprehension3.75 / 5
- Active Listening3.75 / 5
Top O*NET essential and transferable skills by importance. Ratings describe occupational requirements, not future demand.
U.S. employment projection
+21.8%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035
Computer and information research scientists
BLS projects total employment change from many factors. This is not an AI-specific forecast or a UK projection.
BLS employment projectionsWhat to keep evaluating
Generated explanations and citations can be plausible without being correct. Reproduce results and inspect the original work before relying on them.
Tools to try with your tasks
Matched to the tasks you selected. Test on a small example and compare output quality and review effort.
Claude Code
ToolExplore a codebase and propose a bounded change with tests.
Try for: Explore computational solutions; Formulate computational models.
Claude Code commandsClaude Opus 5.5
ModelA model to evaluate on a small, verified example of this task. Compare quality and review effort before adopting it.
Try for: Explore computational solutions; Formulate computational models.
Cursor
ToolDraft and review small code, SQL and test changes in your project.
Try for: Explore computational solutions; Formulate computational models.
GitHub Copilot
ToolDraft code, test cases and documentation alongside the code you are reviewing.
Try for: Explore computational solutions; Formulate computational models.
Sources and limits
Matched occupation: Computer and Information Research Scientists (15-1221.00). Published research group: Computer and Information Research Scientists (SOC 15-1221).
- O*NET 31.0 · CC BY 4.0
- Working with AI, v1.1 · CC BY 4.0
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035 · U.S. government data
Microsoft’s study uses O*NET 29.0; the task descriptions here use O*NET 31.0. The original study score is preserved. Editorial suggestions are not results reported by these sources.
Read the methodology, attribution and update record