Will AI replace Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?

What this score means

Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is among the least exposed roles in Manufacturing. Most of what the job involves still sits outside what current AI can do, even as the tools around it keep changing. At 12 out of 100 it sits close to the Manufacturing average of 14. Across the 3 sources behind this baseline, individual estimates run from 5 to 20, so the score is a weighted consensus rather than any single figure.

The number is a consensus estimate for the typical version of the role, built from published academic and industry research scored occupation by occupation. It is not a prediction about any individual. How scoring works

What this job actually involves

Exposure follows the work itself rather than the job title, so it is worth seeing what the role is made of. These are the tasks O*NET records for Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, most central first, showing 12 of 17.

• 01Verify conformance of machined work to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, micrometers, or fixed or telescoping gauges.
• 02Study machining instructions, job orders, or blueprints to determine dimensional or finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements.
• 03Move machine controls to lower tools to workpieces and to engage automatic feeds.
• 04Verify that workpiece reference lines are parallel to the axis of table rotation, using dial indicators mounted in spindles.
• 05Establish zero reference points on workpieces, such as at the intersections of two edges or over hole locations.
• 06Change worn cutting tools, using wrenches.
• 07Select and set cutting speeds, feed rates, depths of cuts, and cutting tools, according to machining instructions or knowledge of metal properties.
• 08Position and secure workpieces on tables, using bolts, jigs, clamps, shims, or other holding devices.
• 09Observe drilling or boring machine operations to detect any problems.
• 10Lift workpieces onto work tables either manually or with hoists or direct crane operators to lift and position workpieces.
• 11Turn valves and direct flow of coolants or cutting oil over cutting areas.
• 12Install tools in spindles.

Task statements from O*NET by the National Center for O*NET Development, used under CC BY 4.0. The tasks are descriptive; the exposure score above is ours.

The research behind this score

This baseline aggregates 3 research sources that scored Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic for AI and automation exposure. More recent, higher confidence studies carry more weight in the final number.

• 01Anthropic Economic Index 2026 - AI Task Exposure · 2026
• 02GPTs are GPTs: Labor Market Impact Potential of LLMs · 2024
• 03AI Occupational Exposure to Language Modeling · 2023

Also covers

Automatic Driller and Reamer · Automatic Drilling Machine Operator · Barrel Driller · Billet Driller · Bore Mill Operator · Borematic Machine Operator · Borematic Operator · Borer and related titles

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