Chief Operating Officers
Machines can already do 28% 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 Operating Officers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 28% of this job's tasks.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2035, and 50% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Contact with people: it scores 80% for contact with people.
- Also called: COO (Chief Operating Officer), Group COO, Director of Operations, Operations Vice President (Operations VP).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Review financial statements, sales or activity reports, or other performance data to measure productivity or goal achievement or to identify areas needing cost reduction or program improvement | 9% | 81% to 97% | |
| Direct and coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with the production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products | 9% | 10% to 27% | |
| Manage the movement of goods into and out of production facilities to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, or sustainability of operations | 8% | 10% to 27% | |
| Direct or coordinate financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency | 8% | 10% to 27% | |
| Establish or implement departmental policies, goals, objectives, or procedures in conjunction with board members, organization officials, or staff members | 8% | 27% to 51% | |
| Monitor suppliers to ensure that they efficiently and effectively provide needed goods or services within budgetary limits | 7% | 40% to 80% | |
| Implement or oversee environmental management or sustainability programs addressing issues such as recycling, conservation, or waste management | 6% | 18% to 38% | |
| Turn strategy into operating plans, targets and performance reviews across the business | 6% | 32% to 65% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills chief operating officers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- General and Operations Managers49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $105,770
- Sales Managers48% of tasks by 2035 · US median $148,270
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Chief Operating Officers?
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 operating officers?
Machines can do 28% of the tasks of chief operating officers 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 311-C926 (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 and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Chief Operating Officers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/chief-operating-officers/