The DOI matches its Crossref record.
The Future of the Professions: How Technology Will Transform the Work of Human Experts
Abstract
This book predicts the decline of today's professions and describes the people and systems that will replace them. In an Internet society, according to Richard Susskind and Daniel Susskind, we will neither need nor want doctors, teachers, accountants, architects, the clergy, consultants, lawyers, and many others, to work as they did in the 20th century. The Future of the Professions explains how 'increasingly capable systems' -- from telepresence to artificial intelligence -- will bring fundamental change in the way that the 'practical expertise' of specialists is made available in society. The authors challenge the 'grand bargain' -- the arrangement that grants various monopolies to today's professionals. They argue that our current professions are antiquated, opaque and no longer affordable, and that the expertise of their best is enjoyed only by a few. In their place, they propose six new models for producing and distributing expertise in society. The book raises important practical and moral questions. In an era when machines can out-perform human beings at most tasks, what are the prospects for employment, who should own and control online expertise, and what tasks should be reserved exclusively for people? Based on the authors' in-depth research of more than ten professions, and illustrated by numerous examples from each, this is the first book to assess and question the relevance of the professions in the 21st century.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“A significant portion of professional work in fact involves routine activities (Ford 2015(Ford , 2021;;Susskind andSusskind 2015, 2020)”
From Artificial intelligence and work: a critical review of recent research from the social sciences (2024) · cites this paper as Susskind and Susskind 2015
In the citing paper
“First, a detailed look at what professionals actually do challenges the assumption that work that appears more complex or requiring higher skills is necessarily equivalent with non routine work.”
From Artificial intelligence and work: a critical review of recent research from the social sciences (2024) · cites this paper as Susskind and Susskind 2015
Citations
Cites
Still being checked.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 401–500 of 933
Technologie im Rechnungswesen – Wenn die Maschine besser und schneller bucht
Hmyzo, E., & Muzzu, A. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-31146-9_6 · Cited by 3
Professionalism in Archaic and Classical Sculpture in Athens: The Price ofTechnē
Hochscheid, H. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108878135.007 · Cited by 3
Economic transformation, skills, and the future of work
Beylis, G., Jaef, R. F., Morris, M. L., Sebastian, A. R., & Sinha, R. (2020) · World Bank, Washington, DC eBooks · doi:10.1596/978-1-4648-1448-8_ch3 · Cited by 3
Nellis, M. (2017) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1057/978-1-137-37064-8_9 · Cited by 3
Smart Transactional Technologies, Legal Disruption, and the Case of Network Contracts
Brownsword, R. (2019) · The Cambridge Handbook of Smart Contracts, Blockchain Technology and Digital Platforms · doi:10.1017/9781108592239.017 · Cited by 1
Mesquita, A., Oliveira, A., Sequeira, A. S., de Oliveira, L. G., & Silva, P. L. (2019) · Smart innovation, systems and technologies · doi:10.1007/978-981-15-2024-2_23 · Cited by 3
Burton, M. (2020) · Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law · doi:10.1080/09649069.2020.1796217 · Cited by 3
Artists of Dionysus: The First Professional Associations in the Ancient Greek World
Aneziri, S. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108878135.011 · Cited by 4
Neither Amateurs nor Professionals: The Status of Greek Athletes
Mann, C. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108878135.012 · Cited by 4
Developing the next generation of infrastructure engineers
Hay, A. H., Karney, B. W., & Gollish, S. (2021) · Infrastructure Asset Management · doi:10.1680/jinam.19.00065 · Cited by 3
Brock, D. (2021) · Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue canadienne de sociologie · doi:10.1111/cars.12364 · Cited by 4
Dealing with the Machine: Strategies of Pilots and Doctors Towards Technological Integration
Ergur, A. (2021) · Bulletin of Science Technology & Society · doi:10.1177/02704676211065973 · Cited by 3
Wenning, S. (2023) · Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal · doi:10.14738/assrj.104.14416 · Cited by 2
Law, the Digital and Time: The Legal Emblems of Doctor Who
Tranter, K. M. (2017) · International Journal for the Semiotics of Law - Revue internationale de Sémiotique juridique · doi:10.1007/s11196-017-9522-0 · Cited by 3
Leadership in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Corbett, F. C. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-51650-4_24-1 · Cited by 4
Chesterman, S. A., & Loy, H. C. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6046274 · Cited by 4
The need for data products in personal finance
Ribes, E. (2024) · SN Business & Economics · doi:10.1007/s43546-024-00716-4 · Cited by 2
Keshet, Y., Popper‐Giveon, A., & Avnoon, N. (2023) · Journal of Professions and Organization · doi:10.1093/jpo/joad019 · Cited by 2
Glamorous precarity: graphic illustrators in the twilight of artificial intelligence
Butaru, L. T., & Mateescu, V. M. (2025) · Dialectical Anthropology · doi:10.1007/s10624-025-09768-w · Cited by 2
Luokuan, Z., & Zhang, H. (2025) · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447318.2025.2580546 · Cited by 3
Human Capital Robotic Integration and Value Creation for Organizations
Tsai, C., Marshall, J., Eckardt, R., Dionne, S. D., Jung, M. F., Hou, Y. T.-Y., & Yang, B. (2025) · Journal of Organizational Behavior · doi:10.1002/job.70044 · Cited by 2
Generative machine learning in professional work and professional service firms: a research agenda
Faulconbridge, J., Elmholdt, K. T., Pemer, F., Seepma, A. P., Skjølsvik, T., & Molyneux, C. (2025) · Journal of Professions and Organization · doi:10.1093/jpo/joaf018 · Cited by 3
Open Source Online Learning in Rural Communities
Ackerman, G. L. (2018) · Advances in educational technologies and instructional design book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-4206-3.ch003 · Cited by 2
Jarvis, C., & Gouthro, P. A. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-17693-8_11 · Cited by 2
Susskind, D. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-21134-9_13 · Cited by 2
Self-citationArtisan to Automation: Value and Craft in the 21st Century
McMeel, D. (2021) · Architecture and Culture · doi:10.1080/20507828.2021.1919854 · Cited by 2
Designing Engineering and Technology Curricula: Embedding Educational Philosophy
Heywood, J. S. (2022) · Synthesis lectures on engineering, science, and technology · doi:10.2200/s01139ed1v01y202110est017 · Cited by 2
Problemløsing med kunstig intelligens
Kolbjørnsrud, V., & Sannes, R. (2022) · Praktisk økonomi & finans · doi:10.18261/pof.38.1.4 · Cited by 2
Schützeichel, R. (2018) · Springer Reference Sozialwissenschaften · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-13154-8_15-1 · Cited by 5
Digital Disruption in the Accounting Profession
Mandilas, Α., Kourtidis, D., Petasakis, I. E., & Valsamidis, S. I. (2022) · International Journal of Knowledge-Based Organizations · doi:10.4018/ijkbo.305347 · Cited by 2
Elmersjö, M., & Seldén, D. (2022) · The British Journal of Social Work · doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcac234 · Cited by 2
The Expansion of Postgraduate Degrees and its Labour Market Consequences in East Asia
Jung, J. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-16-2327-1_62-1 · Cited by 2
Postavení sestry v minulosti, současnosti a budoucnosti
Pospíšilová, V., & Tóthová, V. (2022) · NLN, s. r. o. eBooks · doi:10.32725/zsf.2022.74228995 · Cited by 2
Ningsih, D. D. S., Achmad, D. H., Dewi, E. K., & Purnami, Y. A. P. (2022) · Rechtsidee · doi:10.21070/jihr.v10i0.787 · Cited by 2
Empirical Study on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Migrant Workers’ Employment
Chen, A. (2022) · International Conference on Education, Knowledge and Information Management (ICEKIM) · doi:10.1109/icekim55072.2022.00051 · Cited by 2
Rethinking Lifelong Learning in the “Fourth Industrial Revolution”
James, D., Sadik, S., & Brown, P. (2023) · Springer international handbooks of education · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-19592-1_49 · Cited by 2
Intelligent service for monitoring the activities of an employee of an organization
Nazarov, D. M., & Nazarov, A. (2023) · IEEE Conference on Business Informatics · doi:10.1109/cbi58679.2023.10187419 · Cited by 2
Digital Competence of Young Adults in Poland
Ćwiek, M., & Maj-Waśniowska, K. (2024) · Acta Universitatis Lodziensis Folia oeconomica · doi:10.18778/0208-6018.368.03 · Cited by 4
Narayanan, G., Kharat, R., & Kathuria, A. (2024) · Lecture notes in business information processing · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-74437-2_1 · Cited by 2
“Change, continuity and crisis in the legal profession: the role of gender”
Sanderson, P., & Sommerlad, H. (2024) · International Journal of the Legal Profession · doi:10.1080/09695958.2024.2421170 · Cited by 2
Defense of Ethical Behavior, Integrity, and Freedom of Thoughts
Brasi, C., & Matteuzzi, C. (2024) · Asian Conference on Communication and Networks (ASIANComNet) · doi:10.1109/asiancomnet63184.2024.10811033 · Cited by 2
Ethical, Social, and Practical Considerations
Qudrat‐Ullah, H. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-82742-6_6 · Cited by 2
LIQUID LEGAL Manifesto: Changing the State of Aggregation in Legal
Schindler, D. (2016) · Management for professionals · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-45868-7_26 · Cited by 2
Businesses, Associations and a Multiactor Diplomacy
Noordhoek, P. (2017) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/s1877-636120170000018007 · Cited by 2
Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)
Kimera, R., Kaggwa, F., Mwavu, R., Mugonza, R., Tumuhimbise, W., Munguci, G., & Kamuganga, F. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-47994-7_20 · Cited by 2
Big-Data Enabled Nursing: Future Possibilities
Warren, J. J., Clancy, T. R., Delaney, C. W., & Weaver, C. A. (2017) · Health informatics · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-53300-1_23 · Cited by 2
Does Veterinary Science have a future in Australia?
Maxwell, J. A. L. (2018) · Insights in Veterinary Science · doi:10.29328/journal.ivs.1001010 · Cited by 2
The Legal Career (R)Evolution and Mentoring Through Technology
Hemming, A. M., & Wilkinson, J. (2018) · Legal Information Management · doi:10.1017/s1472669618000476 · Cited by 2
Kvalnes, Ø. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-15191-1_8 · Cited by 3
Miles, I. D. (2019) · Translational systems sciences · doi:10.1007/978-981-13-7725-9_1 · Cited by 2
Recht 4.0? Überlegungen zur Zukunft des Rechts im digitalen Zeitalter
Boehme-Neßler, V. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-58474-3_23 · Cited by 2
Lee, D. Y. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108878135.014 · Cited by 2
Robotization and Welfare Trends in Future
Kencebay, B. (2020) · IntechOpen eBooks · doi:10.5772/intechopen.93346 · Cited by 2
The moral work of becoming a professional
Nissi, R., & Pâssilä, A. (2021) · Narrative Inquiry · doi:10.1075/ni.20056.nis · Cited by 2
Dangel, S., Hagan, M. D., & Williams, J. B. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-47447-8_16 · Cited by 2
Banks and Banking: New Trends and Challenges
Ricceri, M., Tarkovska, V. V., & Yarygina, I. Z. (2021) · Palgrave Macmillan studies in banking and financial institutions · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-71337-9_11 · Cited by 2
The economic logic of OR consulting practice: Towards a foundational view
Ormerod, R. J. (2021) · Systems Research and Behavioral Science · doi:10.1002/sres.2816 · Cited by 2
Olivares, S. I. (2021) · IntechOpen eBooks · doi:10.5772/intechopen.99999 · Cited by 2
Occupations, Professions and Routine Dynamics
Kho, J. M., & Spee, P. (2021) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108993340.032 · Cited by 2
Rainey, S., Erden, Y. J., & Rességuier, A. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-64573-1_243 · Cited by 2
Meaningful work and unethical work: The crisis in Australian financial advice
West, A. (2023) · Business Ethics the Environment & Responsibility · doi:10.1111/beer.12531 · Cited by 2
Professionalization of Research Computing and Data: An Expanded Agenda
Cutcher‐Gershenfeld, J., Battelle, T., Brunson, D., Cheatham, T. E., Fosso-Tande, J., Jennewein, D. M., Ma, J., Michael, L. A., Middelkoop, T., Neeman, H., et al. (2023) · Practice and Experience in Advanced Research Computing · doi:10.1145/3569951.3593610 · Cited by 2
3. Observation and Measurement
Ingram, D. (2023) · Open Book Publishers · doi:10.11647/obp.0335.03 · Cited by 2
Male Professionals in Nineteenth Century Britain
Brockliss, L., & Smith, H. S. (2024) · doi:10.1093/9780191998966.001.0001 · Cited by 2
Aspects of youth competencies in the 21st century in the European Union
Pribac, L., Ardelean, D., Dudaș, L., Haiduc, C., & Anghelina, A. M. (2017) · Studia Universitatis „Vasile Goldis” Arad – Economics Series · doi:10.1515/sues-2017-0014 · Cited by 2
Introduction: Legal and Ethical Dimensions of AI, NorMAS, and the Web of Data
Pagallo, U., Palmirani, M., Casanovas, P., Giovanni Sartor, B., & Villata, S. (2018) · Lecture notes in computer science · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-00178-0_1 · Cited by 2
Worrying about automation and jobs
Shackleton, J. R. (2020) · Economic Affairs · doi:10.1111/ecaf.12392 · Cited by 2
Miroshnichenko, O. I., & Proscurina, D. S. (2021) · Lecture notes in networks and systems · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-69415-9_103 · Cited by 2
Lawyers and the Machine. Contemplating the Future of Litigation in the Age of AI
Székely, J. (2020) · Acta Universitatis Sapientiae Legal Studies · doi:10.47745/ausleg.2019.8.2.06 · Cited by 2
Social Media in the Built Environment
Thompson, B. G. (2018) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781119063834.ch11 · Cited by 2
Cowley-Cunningham, M. B. (2018) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3106369 · Cited by 2
Ярская-Смирнова, Е. Р., & Кононенко, Р. (2017) · The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology · doi:10.1002/9781405165518.wbeos0799 · Cited by 2
Unbundling Professional Expertise
Burns, E. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-27935-6_8 · Cited by 1
ICE Companion to Engineering Management
Hughes, W., Champion, R., Coleman, S., Chu, Y., Hare, B., & Hay, A. H. (2022) · doi:10.1680/icecem.65949 · Cited by 1
Automated Administrative Orders in Lithuania
Strikaitė-Latušinskaja, G. (2022) · Teisė · doi:10.15388/teise.2022.125.9 · Cited by 1
Society, Healthcare, and Artificial Intelligence
Aman, Z., & Qidwai, M. A. (2024) · Advances in healthcare information systems and administration book series · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-7051-3.ch020 · Cited by 1
The impact of digital transformation and automation on proactive contracting and sustainability
Hirvonen-Ere, S. (2025) · TalTech Journal of European Studies · doi:10.2478/bjes-2025-0011 · Cited by 1
AI and the Evolution of Knowledge Work
Sharma, G. M., Gaur, P., Luu, T. M. N., & Najeeb, A. (2025) · Advances in computational intelligence and robotics book series · doi:10.4018/979-8-3373-1270-5.ch014 · Cited by 1
Rethinking University Innovation Labs as Digital Talent Incubators
Adelakun, O., Badro, D., Koch, H., & Nagulavancha, A. R. (2025) · ACM SIGCPR Conference on Computer Personnel Research (SIGCPR) · doi:10.1145/3716489.3728435 · Cited by 1
Foundations and Frontiers: The Evolution and Impact of Generative AI Technologies
Salloum, S. A., Marzouqi, A. M. A., Gaber, T., Masa’deh, R. M. T., & Shaalan, K. F. (2025) · Studies in computational intelligence · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-89175-5_1 · Cited by 1
Chen, Q., Wang, H., Ma, C., & Ru, P. (2025) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118626 · Cited by 3
The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation in Industry 4.0
Gujrati, R., Uygun, H., & Hatipoğlu, C. (2025) · PromptAI Academy Journal · doi:10.37497/promptai.4.2025.90 · Cited by 1
Ou, N. (2025) · Photography and Culture · doi:10.1080/17514517.2025.2554086 · Cited by 1
AI in professional services: Power, perceptions and tension
Bezuidenhout, C., Mehmet, M., Abbas, R., & Heffernan, T. W. (2026) · Journal of Responsible Technology · doi:10.1016/j.jrt.2026.100172 · Cited by 1
Dei, M. О. (2024) · The Journal of International Legal Communication · doi:10.32612/uw.27201643.2025.17.2.pp.52-65 · Cited by 1
Diab, G., Lahyani, K., & Moukhliss, G. (2025) · International Conference on Optimization and Applications (ICOA) · doi:10.1109/icoa66896.2025.11236875 · Cited by 2
Volckmar‐Eeg, M. G., & Andresen, S. A. (2025) · Social Policy and Administration · doi:10.1111/spol.70036 · Cited by 1
Korkmaz, Y., Serçek, S., & Korkmaz, M. (2025) · International Journal of Innovative Engineering Applications · doi:10.46460/ijiea.1789267 · Cited by 2
Gelecek Trendleri: Yapay Zeka Çağında Muhasebe Mesleği
Yücel, R., & Eroğlu, F. (2025) · Özgür Yayınları eBooks · doi:10.58830/ozgur.pub1159.c4847 · Cited by 1
Schreiner, H.-D., Mocan, B., & Fulea, M. (2026) · Springer proceedings in business and economics · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-11639-0_5 · Cited by 1
A structural and functional model for implementing LegalTech tools in higher legal education
Ratnikova, V. I., Владимировна, Р. Е., & Kachanov, V. V. (2026) · Pedagogy Theory & Practice · doi:10.30853/ped20260024 · Cited by 1
Simon, C. (2026) · Corporate Communications An International Journal · doi:10.1108/ccij-08-2025-0231 · Cited by 1
Shifting terrains of expertise: Power, knowledge and the era of Industry 4.0
Bowkett, C., & Lévesque, C. (2026) · Organization · doi:10.1177/13505084251366177 · Cited by 1
The Robot and the Discretion of the Judge: Artificial Intelligence and Judicial Discretion
Kandeel, M. E., Hashish, A., Refae, G. A. E., Khalil, A., El-Wafa, T. A., & Salameh, H. B. (2025) · International Conference on Intelligent Digitization of Systems and Services (IDSS) · doi:10.1109/idss67199.2025.11398257 · Cited by 1
Singh, J. (2026) · European Journal of Business Management and Research · doi:10.24018/ejbmr.2026.11.1.52852 · Cited by 2
Kobayashi, I. (2026) · Law Innovation and Technology · doi:10.1080/17579961.2026.2633676 · Cited by 1
Explain! Automatisierung personalen Wissens in der naturwissenschaftlichen Wissensarbeit
Schulz, P. (2026) · Arbeit · doi:10.1515/arbeit-2026-0002 · Cited by 1
The Contested Terrain of Skills: Revisiting Labor Process Debates and the Chinese Factory Regime
Xu, H., & Jia, H. (2026) · Sociology Compass · doi:10.1111/soc4.70173 · Cited by 1
Pajdzik, U., Fu, N., & Muzio, D. (2026) · Journal of Professions and Organization · doi:10.1093/jpo/joag006 · Cited by 1
Metadata
- Authors
- Susskind, R., & Susskind, D.
- ORCID
- Susskind, Daniel
- Venue
- Oxford University Press eBooks
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Published
- 2015-10-22
- OpenAlex
- W4247188100
- Cited by
- 936
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 118 · 2025: 149 · 2024: 100 · 2023: 80 · 2022: 81 · 2021: 102 · 2020: 103 · 2019: 80 · 2018: 55 · 2017: 47 · 2016: 21
- FWCI
- 38.97
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Oxford University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Digital Economy and Work Transformation
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Ethics and Social Impacts of AI
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Labor market dynamics and wage inequality
- Keywords
- future of the profession, professional decline, artificial intelligence, telepresence, automation, Grand Bargain, professional monopoly, employment prospects, legal profession, medical profession, accounting profession, architectural profession
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review