Surf journalists around world bummed after profession lands on “most exposed to AI” list

Fun while it lasted.

BeachGrit prides itself on being anti-depressive, as you certainly know and experience multiple times daily, though, today, grey clouds are hanging low. It has nothing to do with oil skyrizzing to well over $100 per barrel, the looming threat of stagflation or a lingering hangover from the official cancellation of the 2025-26 Eddie.

No, those are all li’l spuds compared to the existential crisis unfolding while my fingers type these very words. Namely, the proud profession of “surf journalism” has just landed on the “top 10 jobs most exposed to artificial intelligence” list just released by AI juggernaut Anthropic.

The study, made public on March 5, tracked how Anthropic’s Claud bot was actually being used in the workplace, examining roughly 800 U.S. occupations. Every job ended up with what is called a “coverage score.” A high mark means AI doing much of that work already. A low score means it ain’t.

Cooks, lifeguards, dishwashers and bartenders all safe, for now. The top ten jobs on the way out, though, as follows:

1: Computer programmers: 75% 

2: Customer service reps: 70%

3: Data entry keyers: 67%

4: Medical record specialists: 67%

5: Market research analysts and marketing specialists: 65%

6: Sales reps: 63%

7: Financial and investment analysts: 57%

8: Software quality assurance analysts: 52%

9: Information security analysts: 49%

10: Computer user support specialists: 47%

And there, at number 10, surf journalists (computer user support specialists in tech parlance). Surfer Magazine was early to the game, of course, debuting “Emily,” who “resides in a small town nestled at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee. She’s also a proud owner of a Pyrnesse-mix, her hiking partner, every time she hits a trail. Emily enjoys strong coffee, spicy food, and live music.”

Alas, she was quickly taken off line after outcry but will no doubt be re-employed soon. Though do you think surf journalism giant Nick Carroll is sad or relieved?

What about Matt George?

Sam?

And you?

Will your surf blog reading experienced be affected or business as usual?

Robot uber alles, I suppose.