What are the jobs that will become the "last stronghold" even in the AI era? — The three major professions highlighted by Bill Gates and the reality in Japan

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1. Introduction: The Ripple Effect of the June 3rd Interview

"IA vai tirar seu emprego?" (Will AI take your job?) — In an article published by Brazil's economic media InfoMoney on June 3, Bill Gates highlighted "three still-safe professions." The article trended on X (formerly Twitter) in Brazil within an hour of its release and spread to Japanese-speaking regions, with "#Gates3Professions" being tweeted over 3,000 times in a short span.infomoney.com.br

2. Why the "AI Job Loss Theory" is Resurfacing Now

The debate over "AI taking jobs," which gained momentum in the late 2010s, has regained relevance with the practical application of large language models (LLMs). OpenAI's ChatGPT-5 generation handles complex tasks like risk analysis and legal checks, while GitHub Copilot Enterprise auto-generates code on a scale of 400 lines. U.S. Goldman Sachs predicts that 18% of the global workforce will be directly affected by LLMs, but Gates emphasizes that there are still insurmountable barriers before AI becomes a "universal worker."aibase.com

3. The "Last Bastion" 3 Fields Highlighted by Bill Gates

3-1. Programmers/AI Developers

• Reason 1: The "Meta-Skill" of Controlling AI
  While LLMs accelerate code completion, the role of overseeing "AI that creates AI," such as designing new foundational models, improving inference efficiency, and verifying prompt security, can only be fulfilled by humans.

• Reason 2: The Frontline of Ethics and Regulatory Compliance
  The EU AI Act and Japan's AI business guidelines specify human oversight responsibilities. Development organizations are required to submit "model cards" and "risk assessment reports," necessitating advanced knowledge that spans both programming and institutional design.

• Current Situation in Japan
  The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry estimates a shortage of 450,000 AI/data scientists by 2030. Although reskilling subsidies and large-scale online courses (MOOCs) are emerging, the absolute number of experienced professionals remains insufficient.news.biglobe.ne.jp

3-2. Energy Experts

• Reason 1: Integrated Management of Complex Systems
  Increasing the ratio of renewable energy causes fluctuations in generation and demand based on sunlight, wind speed, and regional industrial structure. Optimization requires the intersection of power system engineering, meteorological data analysis, and policy regulation, making advanced human insight essential.

• Reason 2: Ongoing "Field Dependency"
  Tasks with significant physical constraints, such as grid maintenance and offshore wind installation, remain challenging to fully remote even with advancements in robotics.

• Current Situation in Japan
  With the 2050 carbon-neutral declaration, the Electric Power Wide-Area Organization analyzes that there will be a shortage of about 200,000 "next-generation energy technicians" over the next decade. The global market also anticipates 35 million new jobs in the renewable energy sector, according to the "IRENA Jobs Report 2024."4gnews.pt

3-3. Biologists and Life Science Researchers

• Reason 1: The "Black Box" of Life Phenomena
  Although genetic editing and cell therapy handle vast amounts of data, in the basic research phase, humans need to construct hypotheses and verify them through experiments to understand "why it happens."

• Reason 2: Ethical and Regulatory Decision-Making
  Human embryo research and gene therapy involve social, religious, and cultural factors, requiring researchers to play a role in formulating guidelines in consultation with the community.

• Current Situation in Japan
  The number of clinical trials for regenerative medicine products increased by 18% year-on-year in 2024. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare plans to double clinical development projects by 2026, investing 20 billion yen annually in human resource development.citymagazine.si

4. Pros and Cons Circulated on Japanese Social Media

5. The True Meaning of "3 Professions" as Seen by Experts

• Technologist Perspective
  A former Google Brain researcher points out that "it's not programming that's safe, but the ability to set problems." Those who can define requirements and abstract will survive, while simple implementers will be replaced by AI.

• Energy Policy Researcher Perspective
  As countries advance their unique power grid DX in the decarbonization race, Japanese companies have the opportunity to take hold of smart grid standards with an eye on exports.

• Bio Venture Manager Perspective
  Even as AI drug discovery accelerates, the "clinical wall" remains high. In Japan, there is a chronic shortage of clinical trial coordinators, causing 70% of physician-led trials to be delayed due to lack of personnel.

6. Insights for Career Design—Interdisciplinarity and "Ownership of Problems"

Gates writes in his blog 'GatesNotes' that "the future will be driven by 'multi-domain interpreters'." By combining interdisciplinary knowledge, such as programmers learning energy knowledge or part-time bio researchers learning Python and data analysis, one can build a complementary relationship with AI. Now, with ample reskilling support, is the preparation period to become an "owner of problems."kairn.com

7. Conclusion—Guidelines for the Era of "Thinking with AI"

The destruction and opportunities created by AI are two sides of the same coin, and Gates' three professions are not "indulgences" but merely "direction indicators." The common elements are (1) integration of complexity, (2) responsibility for ethical and social implementation, and (3) a foundation for continuous learning. Individuals who possess these qualities will maintain their value both in Japan and globally. Regardless of the field readers are currently in, honing the ability to deeply understand technology and pose questions that only humans can is the best risk hedge for coexisting with AI and pioneering the future.

Reactions on Social Media

Reactions to Bill Gates' remarks are also being shared on X (formerly Twitter) and other social media platforms: