29 Sept 2025
Artificial intelligence is profoundly impacting industries worldwide, leading to critical discussions about its potential to replace human jobs and the necessity for societal adaptation. This analysis examines AI integration in Iranian startups, contrasts the nation's adoption rates with global trends, and outlines actionable strategies for individuals to effectively leverage AI in their professional endeavors.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly integrating into various sectors globally, prompting widespread discussions about its potential to displace jobs and the critical need for individuals to adapt to this evolving technological landscape.
Leading Iranian startups, including Divar, Snapp, and Digikala, are actively implementing AI models to enhance customer experience, detect fraudulent advertisements, identify driver deviations, and summarize extensive user comments or generate product descriptions.
Iran lags approximately seven years behind the global average in AI adoption, with Iranian companies utilizing AI at only one-third the global rate due to pervasive infrastructure deficiencies, international sanctions, and educational limitations.
Sixty percent of senior developers worldwide currently employ AI in software development, a figure projected to increase to 75% soon, indicating a significant shift towards AI-assisted coding practices and a move beyond traditional methods.
A substantial 90% of global internet users regularly interact with chatbots, and 83% of working professionals leverage AI in various tasks such as scriptwriting, content generation, and ideation, demonstrating its pervasive influence across diverse professions.
Google actively utilizes AI in the development of its own AI systems, with a leading Google engineer attributing half of his code for a new AI model to AI assistance, underscoring AI's integral role in advanced technological innovation.
The chatbot market is largely monopolized by ChatGPT, holding a 60% share, followed by Gemini at 15% and Copilot at 14%, with other platforms occupying significantly smaller segments, and collectively serving one billion daily users.
By 2030, AI is predicted to contribute trillions of dollars to the global economy, with estimates suggesting an increase of up to 57 trillion dollars, reflecting a 26% rise in global Gross Domestic Product.
While countries like China and the UAE have mandated AI education in schools and offered free AI access to citizens, Iran's educational system still restricts digital tools, and governmental AI integration in decision-making processes appears minimal despite official claims.
The Iranian educational system faces significant challenges, including restrictions on mobile and laptop use in schools, outdated computer classes relying on Windows XP screenshots, and university coding exams still being conducted on paper.
Countries such as South Korea, Singapore, Finland, and India have proactively incorporated AI education into their school curricula, effectively preparing their younger generations for the AI-driven future.
Routine and repetitive jobs, particularly data entry roles, are highly vulnerable to AI replacement, with an estimated 7.5 million data entry jobs globally at risk by 2027, while occupations requiring physical labor are currently less susceptible.
Projections indicate that 47% of jobs in the US and 25% in Iran could be transformed or replaced by AI or AI-powered robots within the next decade, fundamentally altering the nature of employment.
Historically, new technologies have transformed rather than eliminated jobs, and AI similarly presents an opportunity for human-AI coexistence, where AI enhances human productivity, efficiency, and creativity without leading to widespread destruction of work.
AI can serve as a powerful assistant across professional hierarchies, enabling individuals from junior experts to managers to offload routine tasks, focus on personalization, and significantly elevate the quality and speed of their work output.
Successful engagement with AI requires three principles: developing expertise in its usage without resistance, exercising patience during the initial learning and training process to customize its performance, and refraining from fear, viewing AI as a tool to be mastered rather than a threat.
Those who can effectively utilize artificial intelligence will hold a significant advantage over individuals unwilling or unable to embrace this transformative technology.
| Aspect | Global Trend/Prediction | Iranian Context/Challenge |
|---|---|---|
| AI Adoption Rate (Corporate) | 30% average usage by companies | 10% usage by companies; 7 years behind global average due to infrastructure issues, sanctions, and educational deficits. |
| Senior Developer AI Usage | 60% currently, projected to 75% soon | Not explicitly stated, but generally indicative of lagging adoption rates and outdated educational practices. |
| Chatbot Market Dominance | ChatGPT holds 60% market share, followed by Gemini (15%) and Copilot (14%) | Widespread public use, but advanced model access (e.g., ChatGPT Plus) often restricted or difficult. |
| Economic Impact by 2030 | Projected to add trillions of dollars (estimated $57T) to the global economy, increasing global GDP by 26% | Limited direct impact due to lagging national adoption and broader economic difficulties. |
| AI Education Approach | Mandatory in UAE schools, included in Chinese textbooks since 2018; taught in South Korea, Singapore, Finland, India | Restrictions on digital tools in schools; computer classes use Windows XP screenshots; university coding exams are paper-based. |
| Jobs at High Risk of AI Replacement | Data entry (7.5 million jobs globally by 2027), routine clerical and accounting work; 47% of US jobs vulnerable. | Office managers, secretaries; 25% of Iranian jobs are potentially vulnerable to AI/robot replacement. |
| Benefits of AI Adaptation | Increased productivity, efficiency, creativity, and overall quality of work for individuals and organizations. | Similar benefits for individuals who adapt, despite national limitations, gaining a competitive edge over those resistant to AI. |
