Will AI replace Computer Network Architects?
On paper, AI could touch ~66% of the work in Computer Network Architects — and unlike most jobs, it's already showing up in the real workday, not just the theory.
O*NET-SOC 15-1241
How your 52 core tasks split
Top = what GPT-4 judged AI could speed up. Bottom = how much AI was actually used for these tasks (Anthropic's March 2026 report, usage from Aug & Nov 2025). The gap is the real story.
Back in 2023, GPT-4 judged AI could, in theory, assist with a high share of this job's tasks (~66%). By late 2025, real-world AI use had reached about 20% of its task activity (already common). The gap between that 2023 forecast and today is the real story.
Where this job sits among 738 jobs
Each dot is one of 738 U.S. jobs. Right = AI can do more of it. Up = AI is actually used more.
Read this as a range, not a verdict
The signals here partly disagree — AI's theoretical reach (~66%) and its real-world use (~20%) tell different stories. AI-risk scores also shift a lot by which model does the rating (2.7%–51.5% in one 2026 study), so this is a direction of travel, not a fixed answer.
See all 52 tasks, ratedBased on real task-level AI scores — click to collapse
- Develop or recommend network security measures, such as firewalls, network security audits, or automated security probes.
- Develop conceptual, logical, or physical network designs.
- Develop and implement solutions for network problems.
- Determine specific network hardware or software requirements, such as platforms, interfaces, bandwidths, or routine schemas.
- Participate in network technology upgrade or expansion projects, including installation of hardware and software and integration testing.
- Develop network-related documentation.
- Research and test new or modified hardware or software products to determine performance and interoperability.
- Design, build, or operate equipment configuration prototypes, including network hardware, software, servers, or server operation systems.
- Explain design specifications to integration or test engineers.
- Develop or maintain project reporting systems.
- Use network computer-aided design (CAD) software packages to optimize network designs.
- Develop and write procedures for installation, use, or troubleshooting of communications hardware or software.
- Document procedures for hardware and software installation and use.
- Install, or coordinate installation of, new or modified hardware, software, or programming modules of telecommunications systems.
- Implement or perform preventive maintenance, backup, or recovery procedures.
- Prepare purchase requisitions for computer hardware and software, networking and telecommunications equipment, test equipment, cabling, or tools.
- Document technical specifications and operating standards for telecommunications equipment.
- Document user support activity, such as system problems, corrective actions, resolution status, and completed equipment installations.
- Develop disaster recovery plans.
- Monitor and analyze network performance and reports on data input or output to detect problems, identify inefficient use of computer resources, or perform capacity planning.
- Coordinate network or design activities with designers of associated networks.
- Communicate with system users to ensure accounts are set up properly or to diagnose and solve operational problems.
- Visit vendors, attend conferences or training sessions, or study technical journals to keep up with changes in technology.
- Evaluate network designs to determine whether customer requirements are met efficiently and effectively.
- Adjust network sizes to meet volume or capacity demands.
- Prepare detailed network specifications, including diagrams, charts, equipment configurations, or recommended technologies.
- Estimate time and materials needed to complete projects.
- Supervise engineers or other staff in the design or implementation of network solutions.
- Coordinate network operations, maintenance, repairs, or upgrades.
- Develop procedures to track, project, or report network availability, reliability, capacity, or utilization.
- Communicate with customers, sales staff, or marketing staff to determine customer needs.
- Prepare design presentations and proposals for staff or customers.
- Prepare or monitor project schedules, budgets, or cost control systems.
- Develop plans or budgets for network equipment replacement.
- Communicate with vendors to gather information about products, alert them to future needs, resolve problems, or address system maintenance issues.
- Consult with users, administrators, and engineers to identify business and technical requirements for proposed system modifications or technology purchases.
- Implement system renovation projects in collaboration with technical staff, engineering consultants, installers, and vendors.
- Keep abreast of changes in industry practices and emerging telecommunications technology by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences.
- Review and evaluate requests from engineers, managers, and technicians for system modifications.
- Assess existing facilities' needs for new or modified telecommunications systems.
- Develop, maintain, or implement telecommunications disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity.
- Communicate with telecommunications vendors to obtain pricing and technical specifications for available hardware, software, or services.
- Instruct in use of voice, video, and data communications systems.
- Provide user support by diagnosing network and device problems and implementing technical or procedural solutions.
- Estimate costs for system or component implementation and operation.
- Order or maintain inventory of telecommunications equipment for customer premises equipment (CPE), facilities, access networks, or backbone networks.
- Use computer-aided design (CAD) software to prepare or evaluate network diagrams, floor plans, or site configurations for existing facilities, renovations, or new systems.
- Prepare system activity and performance reports.
- Coordinate installation of new equipment.
- Maintain or coordinate the maintenance of network peripherals, such as printers.
- Inspect sites to determine physical configuration, such as device locations and conduit pathways.
- Work with personnel and facilities management staff to install, remove, or relocate user connectivity equipment and devices.
How we measured this — and how fresh it is
AI's theoretical reach data: 2023
From GPTs-are-GPTs (Eloundou et al.), where GPT-4 rated how much of each task an AI tool could meaningfully speed up. This is the most recent open, commercially-usable occupation-level potential dataset — it dates to 2023. Newer multi-model re-runs exist but swing wildly (one 2026 study saw "high-risk" jobs range 2.7%–51.5% by model) and aren't openly licensed, so we show the stable 2023 baseline and pair it with newer real-world data.
Real-world AI use 2026 report
From the Anthropic Economic Index, which observes how real Claude conversations map onto each occupation's tasks. Published in Anthropic's March 2026 labor-market report, based on usage measured in Aug & Nov 2025 (Sonnet 4 / 4.5).
Task list & ratings O*NET 30.3
Tasks come from O*NET 30.3. Each task's "AI can do / speeds up / still on you" tier uses the real task-level exposure scores from GPTs-are-GPTs (E1 / E2 / E0) — not a guess from keywords.
Sources: O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0) · GPTs-are-GPTs (MIT, 2023) · Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY, Aug & Nov 2025). Page compiled June 2026. "O*NET" is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor.
This page is for general informational purposes only and is not career, financial, or employment advice. AI exposure reflects research estimates of task overlap, not predictions about any individual's job, employer, or future employment.