Are you safe as an occupational therapist when AI arrives?
An honest assessment of how AI is changing your job as an occupational therapist, and a plan to be the one who uses AI and not the one replaced.
AI exposure for occupational therapists is low. Of 6 typical tasks, 1 can be automated, 3 will change with AI, and 2 remain safe.
Last updated 9 June 2026
Your AI proofing
AI exposure
low
20/100
As an occupational therapist you are among the safest when it comes to AI. Your job is about meeting people in a vulnerable situation, assessing their everyday life with your own eyes and rebuilding function through physical and relational work. AI can support you with assessment and documentation, but it cannot take over the human side of rehabilitation.
Screen / desk work
Occupational therapy is mainly practical and relational work face to face with patients, at home, in hospital or in institutions. You use a computer for journals and reports, but most of the job requires you to be physically present with the person you are helping.
Your tasks
- Assess functional level and everyday needs in the user's homechanging
AI can structure the assessment, but you have to observe the person in person.
- Train daily activities and movement with the patientsafe
Requires hands-on guidance, adaptation and human encouragement.
- Adapt assistive devices and housing to the individualchanging
AI can suggest solutions, but the fitting happens in real rooms and bodies.
- Write reports, applications and journal notesautomated
AI can draft much of the documentation from your notes.
- Collaborate across disciplines on treatment planschanging
AI can summarise information, but you make the clinical judgements together.
- Build trust and motivate patients through rehabilitationsafe
Empathy and relationship are at the core and cannot be automated.
Your plan now
- 1Use AI for journal notes and assistive device applications. You free up time from paperwork for more direct patient contact.
- 2Specialise in for example hand, cognition or paediatrics. Niche expertise makes you harder to replace and more sought after.
- 3Learn new welfare technology and digital assistive devices. You become the link between the technology and the people who use it.
- 4Strengthen your skills in cross-disciplinary work and guidance. Coordinating roles gain value as the surrounding tasks get automated.
Your edge
You work physically and relationally close to people who are learning to master their own lives again, and no AI can replace that trust and adaptation.
Assessment generated by AI based on your role.
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Frequently asked questions
Will occupational therapists be replaced by AI?
As an occupational therapist you are among the safest when it comes to AI. Your job is about meeting people in a vulnerable situation, assessing their everyday life with your own eyes and rebuilding function through physical and relational work. AI can support you with assessment and documentation, but it cannot take over the human side of rehabilitation.
Which tasks are most exposed for occupational therapists?
Most exposed: Write reports, applications and journal notes. Changing with AI: Assess functional level and everyday needs in the user's home, Adapt assistive devices and housing to the individual, Collaborate across disciplines on treatment plans.
What should you learn now as an occupational therapist?
Use AI for journal notes and assistive device applications. Specialise in for example hand, cognition or paediatrics. Learn new welfare technology and digital assistive devices.
What makes an occupational therapist hard to replace?
You work physically and relationally close to people who are learning to master their own lives again, and no AI can replace that trust and adaptation.