Quick check
Guess first, no penalty. In a 2026 New York Fed survey, 51 percent of manufacturers in the region used AI. At those manufacturers, what was the median share of workers using it?
Four findings, each with what it measured:
- Physical work is least exposed. Microsoft's Working with AI found the jobs where AI applies least "include occupations that require physically working with people, operating machinery, and other manual labor".
- Use is patchy, and no AI layoffs so far, in one region. The New York Fed survey: 51 percent of manufacturers used AI, the median share of their workers using it was 7 percent, and no manufacturers reported AI layoffs this year or last.
- Record-keeping is expected to shrink. In the WEF's Future of Jobs Report 2025, employers list material-recording and stock-keeping clerks among the fastest declining jobs by 2030.
- Supply chain is where firms expect cuts. Stanford's AI Index 2026: "Anticipated reductions are highest in service operations, supply chain, and software engineering."
A worked example
Step by step
Before you repeat "51 percent of manufacturers use AI", ask three questions.
Step 1 of 3: Who was surveyed?
Step 1 of 3
Who was surveyed?
Manufacturers in New York and northern New Jersey. One region.
Your turn
Fill the gaps
Fill each gap so the claim matches the research.
What the research says
51 percent is the share of . Stock-keeping clerks on the WEF list are .
Try it
Your steps, about 2 minutes
- 1.Finish your floor AI kit: under each saved request, write the one thing you always check by hand. Keep the kit on your phone for your next shift.2 min