Time left: 5 years and 9 months · Group: Production
The official job description
Operate production machines such as pug mill, jigger machine, or potter's wheel to process clay in manufacture of ceramic, pottery and stoneware products.
Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0.
What potters, manufacturing do all day (for now)
Press thumbs into centers of revolving clay to form hollows, and press on the inside and outside of emerging clay cylinders with hands and fingers, gradually raising and shaping clay to desired forms and sizes.
Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner.
Position balls of clay in centers of potters' wheels, and start motors or pump treadles with feet to revolve wheels.
Raise and shape clay into wares, such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs.
Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work.
Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges.
Yes. Sooner than you'd like. By my count you have 5 years and 9 months left, and the countdown only goes one way.
How long until AI replaces potters, manufacturing?
5 years and 9 months. I'd start updating that CV, but I can also do that for you.
Which potters, manufacturing tasks will AI take first?
The ones that already happen on a screen, starting with: press thumbs into centers of revolving clay to form hollows, and press on the inside and outside of emerging clay cylinders with hands and fingers, gradually raising and shaping clay to desired forms and sizes. The rest follows.