Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers

examines drawings and specifications to determine job requirements and appropriate materials

AI tools like AutoCAD or SketchUp with AI plugins can help interpret drawings and suggest materials, but the craftworker still needs to apply practical woodworking knowledge and make final judgements.

measures floor area to be covered and lays wood blocks, parquet panels or hardwood strips

AI-assisted measurement apps or floor planning software can help calculate area and layout patterns, but the physical laying of wood blocks and strips remains entirely manual skilled work.

matches and marks out veneers ready for cutting and examines and repairs defects in veneer or plywood sheets

AI image analysis tools could potentially assist in identifying grain patterns or defects in veneer from photographs, but the marking, cutting and repair decisions require expert tactile and visual judgement.

removes, replaces or repairs damaged parts of wooden furniture

AI could assist in diagnosing damage from photos (e.g. using image recognition tools), but the actual repair and restoration work is entirely physical and requires skilled craftsmanship.

selects, measures, cuts and shapes wood using saws, chisels, planes, powered hand tools and woodworking machines

This is highly physical, hands-on work requiring fine motor skills, tactile judgement and experience with tools that AI cannot replicate in any practical sense today.

assembles parts with crafted joints, nails, screws, dowels or adhesives and fits locks, catches, hinges, castors, drawers, shelves and other fittings

Assembly and fitting requires physical dexterity, spatial reasoning in real-time, and hands-on problem-solving that current AI and robotics cannot perform in a craft workshop setting.