Will AI replace Training and Development Specialists?
AI can do 90% of the work Training and Development Specialists do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 4 of their 20 tasks, while 12 more are ready but barely used so far. 4 still need a person.
AI is already doing this4 · 36% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Obtain, organize, or develop training procedure manuals, guides, or course materials, such as handouts or visual materials.Mostly automated17% of time
- Design, plan, organize, or direct orientation and training programs for employees or customers.Mostly automated10% of time
- Assess training needs through surveys, interviews with employees, focus groups, or consultation with managers, instructors, or customer representatives.Mostly automated6% of time
- Evaluate training materials prepared by instructors, such as outlines, text, or handouts.Mostly automated3% of time
AI could do this next12 · 54% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Present information with a variety of instructional techniques or formats, such as role playing, simulations, team exercises, group discussions, videos, or lectures.19% of time
- Monitor, evaluate, or record training activities or program effectiveness.8% of time
- Attend meetings or seminars to obtain information for use in training programs or to inform management of training program status.6% of time
- Offer specific training programs to help workers maintain or improve job skills.5% of time
- Keep up with developments in area of expertise by reading current journals, books, or magazine articles.4% of time
- Develop alternative training methods if expected improvements are not seen.3% of time
- Devise programs to develop executive potential among employees in lower-level positions.3% of time
- Monitor training costs and prepare budget reports to justify expenditures.3% of time
- Select and assign instructors to conduct training.1% of time
- Negotiate contracts with clients for desired training outcomes, fees, or expenses.1% of time
- Supervise, evaluate, or refer instructors to skill development classes.1% of time
- Refer trainees to employer relations representatives, to locations offering job placement assistance, or to appropriate social services agencies, if warranted.under 1% of time
Still needs a person4 · 10% 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.
- Coordinate recruitment and placement of training program participants.4% of time
- Schedule classes based on availability of classrooms, equipment, or instructors.3% of time
- Evaluate modes of training delivery, such as in-person or virtual, to optimize training effectiveness, training costs, or environmental impacts.3% of time
- Develop or implement training programs related to efficiency, recycling, or other issues with environmental impacts.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 already do almost all of this work at least twice as fast. People in this job already use it heavily. Expect the role to shift toward deciding what to do, checking AI's work and owning the result.
What to do next
- Do the 4 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
- Get ahead on the 12 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Build on the 4 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Related jobs
Get the weekly brief
One short email a week on how AI is changing work, including jobs like this one.