A Kleiner Perkins partner explains why the firm is betting on AI for highly paid jobs like doctors and lawyers

In a recent episode of the 'Uncapped' podcast, Mamoon Hamid, a partner at Kleiner Perkins, shared insights on the firm's strategic investments in artificial intelligence tailored for some of the highest-paying professions in the United States. Hamid highlighted that jobs such as doctors, lawyers, and engineers rank among the top twenty in terms of salary. The venture capitalist expressed the firm's vision of developing AI 'copilots' for these roles. He noted, "While certain aspects of these professions require nuanced human judgment, there are also components that can be effectively managed by AI, such as scribing notes or documentation." Kleiner Perkins has already made notable investments in several startups, including Ambience, which focuses on assisting doctors, Harvey, a platform for the legal sector, and Windsurf, aimed at providing coding support for engineers. Hamid pointed out the challenges of applying AI to physical labor jobs, which are often among the lowest paid. He stated, "The nature of physical work is inherently demanding, and developing AI solutions for these roles remains a complex challenge. However, we're looking towards a future that may include humanoid robots." Founded in 1972, the Menlo Park-based firm specializes in early-stage technology and life sciences investments, having supported over 900 companies, including tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Twitter. As AI technology continues to advance, businesses across various sectors are increasingly integrating it into their operations, often making its use a requirement for employees. Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norway's $1.8 trillion sovereign wealth fund, recently stated that AI usage is no longer optional for his team, emphasizing that failure to engage with AI tools could hinder career advancement. Similarly, Shopify's CEO Tobias Lütke informed employees that AI is now an essential expectation, urging teams to justify any requests for additional resources if they cannot leverage AI to meet their goals. In April, Uber's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi highlighted the need for comprehensive AI training within the company, declaring that proficiency in AI-assisted coding will become a critical skill for employees within the next year.