Chief Executives
Machines can already do 29% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 50%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Chief Executives in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 29% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 3% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2035, and 50% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 204,350 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $213,990 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 78% for contact with people.
- Also called: CEO (Chief Executive Officer), President, Executive Director, Managing Director (MD).
- Competency here means how well the best AI model, tool or robot available can do a task, scored out of 100: today using the best available now, and for later years the 311 prediction of what AI and robots will be able to do.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems | 12% | 30% to 54% | |
| Direct, plan, or implement policies, objectives, or activities of organizations or businesses to ensure continuing operations, to maximize returns on investments, or to increase productivity | 10% | 18% to 40% | |
| Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency | 9% | 10% to 27% | |
| Analyze operations to evaluate performance of a company or its staff in meeting objectives or to determine areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement, or policy change | 7% | 77% to 97% | |
| Prepare or present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting businesses or program services | 5% | 70% to 95% | |
| Direct or coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products | 5% | 10% to 27% | |
| Review reports submitted by staff members to recommend approval or to suggest changes | 5% | 60% to 90% | |
| Implement corrective action plans to solve organizational or departmental problems | 4% | 10% to 27% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills chief executives use most, most used first.
Human value: what makes people in this job hard to replace
How much chief executives rely on each one, from 0 to 10. 311 estimates, medium confidence.
- Go-to problem solver10/10
- Trust and reliability10/10
- Know-how about the organisation10/10
- Network and relationships10/10
- Mentoring and developing others10/10
- Culture and morale10/10
- Initiative beyond the role10/10
- Calm in a crisis9/10
- Bridge between teams10/10
- Reputation and influence10/10
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
This job is already among the lowest risk for its skill shape.
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Chief Executives?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2035. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of chief executives?
Machines can do 29% of the tasks of chief executives today and 50% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 11-1011.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring, forecast and human value: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit (human value scores are 311 estimates, medium confidence); after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Chief Executives: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/chief-executives/