Employment data paints a grim picture for secretaries and administrative assistants, a women-dominated profession increasingly vulnerable to AI-induced job displacement. Yet a subset of these workers is embracing tools like ChatGPT and Claude to stay ahead.
Deanna Danger, 43, an executive assistant at Vanderbilt University, has used AI professionally since 2022. She now relies on Copilot and ChatGPT to take notes during meetings, freeing her to participate actively rather than just transcribing.
“All you do is have to evolve,” Danger says. Her approach highlights a broader trend: some admins are experimenting with AI to handle routine tasks, carving out more strategic roles for themselves.
Still, the overall employment outlook remains challenging. Projection data suggests the profession may shrink faster than the broader workforce as automation encroaches. The shift could disproportionately affect women, who hold the majority of these roles.
A key question is whether reskilling efforts can keep pace. While Danger’s example shows adaptation is possible, not all workers have access to training or the freedom to experiment with new tools.