Will AI replace Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary?
AI can do 64% of the work Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 2 of their 20 tasks, while 9 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 1 physical task. 8 still need a person.
AI is already doing this2 · 13% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Develop teaching materials, such as syllabi, visual aids, answer keys, supplementary notes, or course Web sites.Mostly automated8% of time
- Prepare or proctor examinations.Mostly automated5% of time
AI could do this next9 · 51% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Evaluate and grade examinations, assignments, or papers, and record grades.23% of time
- Schedule and maintain regular office hours to meet with students.8% of time
- Teach undergraduate-level courses.8% of time
- Inform students of the procedures for completing and submitting class work, such as lab reports.3% of time
- Complete laboratory projects prior to assigning them to students so that any needed modifications can be made.3% of time
- Provide assistance to faculty members or staff with laboratory or field research.3% of time
- Order or obtain materials needed for classes.3% of time
- Assist faculty members or staff with student conferences.3% of time
- Provide instructors with assistance in the use of audiovisual equipment.under 1% of time
Robots can technically do this1 · 3% of time
Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.
- Copy and distribute classroom materials.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
Still needs a person8 · 33% of time
No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.
- Lead discussion sections, tutorials, or laboratory sections.15% of time
- Tutor or mentor students who need additional instruction.5% of time
- Attend lectures given by the supervising instructor.5% of time
- Return assignments to students in accordance with established deadlines.3% of time
- Meet with supervisors to discuss students' grades or to complete required grade-related paperwork.3% of time
- Demonstrate use of laboratory equipment and enforce laboratory rules.3% of time
- Notify instructors of errors or problems with assignments.under 1% of time
- Arrange for supervisors to conduct teaching observations and provide feedback about teaching performance.under 1% of time
Your week is not the average
Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.
What this means
AI can do most of this work faster, but a real part of the job still needs a person. Real use is still behind at 11 out of 100, so the change here is only getting started. The people who learn which tasks to hand off will pull ahead.
What to do next
- Do the 2 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
- Get ahead on the 9 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Keep an eye on the 1 physical task robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
- Build on the 8 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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