Will AI replace File Clerks?

Many of your tasks are within reach of AI. The role will change, so it pays to act now.

Task exposure to today's AI

54/100

High exposure

This is the occupation's typical task mix. Your own score can be up to 30 points higher or lower depending on how you work: routine share, people contact, judgment and how much you already use AI.

Get your personal score

Will AI replace File Clerks?

Not entirely. Today's AI tools can take on about 54% of the typical work in this occupation, mostly: scan or read incoming materials to determine how and where they should be classified or filed. The parts that stay human include: Place materials into storage receptacles, such as file cabinets, boxes, bins, or drawers, according to classification and identification information.; Input data, such as file numbers, new or updated information, or document information codes into computer systems to support document and information retrieval.; Find, retrieve, and make copies of information from files in response to requests and deliver information to authorized users..

People who learn to use AI for the automatable parts keep the edge. The 3-phase plan below shows where to start.

Which tasks AI can take on

The largest tasks in this occupation, their share of the working week, and how much of each today's AI tools can do.

TaskAutomatable

Scan or read incoming materials to determine how and where they should be classified or filed. 75%

Input data, such as file numbers, new or updated information, or document information codes into computer systems to support document and information retrieval.AI already used 68%

Add new material to file records or create new records as necessary. 65%

Perform general office activities, such as typing, answering telephones, operating office machines, processing mail, or securing confidential materials. 62%

Sort or classify information according to guidelines, such as content, purpose, user criteria, or chronological, alphabetical, or numerical order. 57%

Find, retrieve, and make copies of information from files in response to requests and deliver information to authorized users. 50%

+ 13 more tasks (36% of the week) in the full test.

Your human edge

Place materials into storage receptacles, such as file cabinets, boxes, bins, or drawers, according to classification and identification information.
Input data, such as file numbers, new or updated information, or document information codes into computer systems to support document and information retrieval.
Find, retrieve, and make copies of information from files in response to requests and deliver information to authorized users.

AI tools to try

Microsoft 365 Copilot or Google Gemini for WorkspaceChatGPT / Claude for emails and documentsAutomation tools (Power Automate, Zapier, Make)

Related roles

A 3-phase AI learning plan

Phase 1

Automate the routine

Emails, letters and documents from templates with AI.
Data entry and extraction from forms and PDFs.
Spreadsheet work with AI help.

Project

Use AI to extract file numbers, dates and document codes from 50 scanned forms into a spreadsheet, then compare accuracy and minutes per form against manual entry.

Phase 2

Workflows across tools

Connect email, forms and spreadsheets with no-code automations.
Checks and controls on automated steps.
Document how each workflow works.

Project

Build a no-code workflow that turns incoming file-request emails into a tracked spreadsheet log with duplicate and missing-field checks, and write a one-page runbook for it.

Phase 3

From doing to coordinating

Become the person who maintains the team's automations.
Train colleagues.
Look at roles in operations, coordination or process improvement.

Project

Train two colleagues on your retrieval-request automation, hand over a maintenance checklist, and track request turnaround time before and after for four weeks.

Take the free 11-question test