Anthropic data reveals enterprise AI usage patterns: over 70% used for automation to replace human labor

A recent report from AI startup Anthropic reveals that companies are overwhelmingly using AI to automate work rather than engage in human-machine collaboration, exacerbating the risk that AI may disrupt the job market.

According to the research report released by Anthropic on Monday, more than three-quarters (77%) of companies use its Claude AI software in automation mode, often involving "complete task delegation." This finding is based on an analysis of the traffic to Anthropic's application programming interface (API), which is primarily used by developers and corporate users.

As one of OpenAI's main competitors, Anthropic is a leading company selling AI tools to businesses, aiming to help accelerate tasks such as software development, research, and writing. However, this technology has also raised concerns about potential mass layoffs and employee unemployment, a risk that Anthropic emphasized in the report.

In light of this latest data, Anthropic's head of external affairs, Sarah Heck, stated:

"We do not know if this confirms the previous pessimistic predictions of company CEOs regarding the job market, but these data suggest that some new situations are occurring."

Key Application Scenarios: Administration and Coding

The report shows a surge in automation usage, but the exact driving forces behind it remain unclear. Anthropic's head of economics, Peter McCrory, stated that it is currently unclear whether this growth is due to "new model capabilities expanding the range of tasks that can be automated," or "people becoming more accustomed to large language models and more willing to delegate certain tasks to Claude."

McCrory believes that understanding which factor is driving this shift is "an important area of research for the future."

The report further clarifies the specific areas where companies are automating tasks. Overall, Anthropic found that companies primarily use Claude to handle administrative tasks and programming work. Among these, coding has been a key focus area for both Anthropic and the entire AI industry.

AI developers, including Anthropic and OpenAI, have released more sophisticated AI tools capable of writing and debugging code on behalf of users. These tools are directly aimed at high-skilled positions such as software development, and the enhancement of their automation capabilities further highlights the potential impact of technology on white-collar jobs.

Notably, Anthropic's executives have previously issued stern warnings about the disruptive potential of AI. Co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei has predicted that AI could eliminate 50% of entry-level positions and has publicly stated that people should stop "sugarcoating" the challenges of the future.

The report released this time provides data support for these predictions to some extent, quantifying the actual behavior patterns of corporate users who tend to use AI for task substitution rather than assistance. Although the company officially states that it is uncertain whether this means the worst-case scenario will eventually come, this report undoubtedly provides a key reference for assessing the direct impact of AI on the labor market