Will AI replace models?

Not on current evidence. Less than 30 minutes of a typical shift goes to tasks that AI or robots are doing today. The other 8h (100%) stays with people. Separately, BLS expects about 2.1% fewer of these jobs by 2035 (all jobs: +3.5%).

None of this job's tasks show regular AI use yet. That can mean the work is hands-on or in person, or simply that it rarely comes up in AI usage data.

Not in workplaces like this one, based on a 2026 review of robot deployments. For 7 physical tasks, no robot has shown it can do the work yet.

8h of a typical shift, or 100%, goes to tasks with no AI or robot evidence yet. No AI usage or robot deployment has shown up for these so far. The biggest:

• Pose as directed, or strike suitable interpretive poses for promoting and selling merchandise or fashions during appearances, filming, or photo sessions. (1h 52m a shift)
• Assemble and maintain portfolios, print composite cards, and travel to go-sees to obtain jobs. (1h 20m a shift)
• Follow strict routines of diet, sleep, and exercise to maintain appearance. (1h 20m a shift)
• Pose for artists and photographers. (48m a shift)
• Work closely with photographers, fashion coordinators, directors, producers, stylists, make-up artists, other models, and clients to produce the desired looks, and to finish photo shoots on schedule. (48m a shift)

Much of it comes down to where and how the work happens. In-person, hands-on and high-stakes work is where AI and robots have made the least headway so far. In the official O*NET survey of people in this job:

• 78% are in constant contact with other people
• 51% work at arm's length or closer to other people

On Indeed, job postings in the Sales sector are at 92% of their February 2020 level (all U.S. postings: 104%), up 1.5% from a year earlier, as of Oct 9, 2026. BLS separately expects about 700 openings a year in this job through 2035. Across all U.S. postings, 7.3% now mention AI skills. Sector postings cover more than this one job and move for many reasons besides AI.

The median pay is about $48,470 a year ($23.30 an hour), 5% below the median for all U.S. jobs ($50,980). Most people in this job earn between $34,190 and $131,470 a year; that range covers the middle 80%. Pay figures are from BLS, May 2025, and vary a lot by state and employer. Pick a state to compare:

BLS projects a decline of 2.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% growth for all jobs. That's about 4,100 jobs in 2035. Even so, it expects about 700 openings a year, mostly from people retiring or changing careers. These projections don't single out AI as a cause.

About 3,780 people in the U.S., roughly 0.00% of all workers (BLS, May 2025). That makes it the 741st largest of the 796 jobs on this site. BLS expects about 4,100 in 2035.

The most common requirement is a high school diploma: about 76% of people in the job said so in the official O*NET survey. O*NET rates the job at level 2 of 5 for preparation, which usually means: high school diploma, some training. Requirements vary by state and employer, especially for licensed work.

These come from the job's official skill ratings and from the tasks that AI and robots touch least today. Building them keeps you strong in the parts of the work that still need a person:

• Get strong at the parts of the job that stay with people (listed above), which take 8h of a typical shift
• Tools employers list: Apple iOS, Apple Safari, Facebook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software

These use similar skills. Matches come from 109 official ratings of skills, knowledge and work activities, and each needs the same or less preparation unless the official list relates the jobs directly:

• Manicurists and Pedicurists (34m touched, $36k median pay)
• Crossing Guards and Flaggers (0m touched, $38k median pay)
• Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants (1h 46m touched, $36k median pay)
• Cashiers (3h 47m touched, $33k median pay)

Each task carries its own evidence label. For this job: 10 with no AI or robot evidence found. The minutes per task are estimates, not measured hours, and "no evidence" doesn't prove a task is safe.