When Will AI Replace Soudeurs, Découpeurs et Braseurs ?

The automation timeline for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is marked by distinct phases. Early impacts are anticipated as soon as 2026, with a broader shift by 2028. While some roles face significant automation, others with higher complexity will extend well beyond 2030, highlighting a bifurcated future.

Production welders in high-volume manufacturing settings, particularly those performing repetitive MIG welding in automotive supply chains or large factories, are set to face the earliest impact. These roles are most susceptible to automation by 2026 due to the established nature of robotic welding technology.

The mid-wave transformation will see further integration of AI in quality control and seam tracking, impacting a wider range of welding tasks by 2028. This period will see approximately 50% of welding tasks automated, necessitating adaptation across the sector.

Production welders in high-volume, repetitive manufacturing environments are most at risk. Their tasks are more easily replicated by robotic welding cells and AI vision systems. The timeline for significant impact here begins as early as 2026.

Conversely, highly skilled welders specializing in complex applications like pipe welding for critical infrastructure (oil/gas/power plants), structural steel for skyscrapers, underwater welding, or nuclear/aerospace projects with stringent X-ray inspection requirements, are more secure. Their complex, variable, and certification-heavy work offers a longer runway, potentially through 2030 and beyond.

With an estimated 2-5 years to pivot, depending on your specialization and certifications, proactive adaptation is key. Focus on acquiring new skills and certifications that align with the evolving needs of the industry, particularly those that complement AI and robotic technologies.

Explore training in areas that leverage AI vision systems for quality inspection or work with collaborative robots. For those in high-risk roles, consider upskilling into specialized welding applications or supervisory roles that manage automated systems.