Why AI isn't coming for your L&D job - and how to thrive with it

It’s starting to feel like Y2K all over again.

Before you rush off to stream the latest sci-fi robot takeover flick (I, Robot, we’re looking at you), take a breath—and look at history. Time and again, new technologies have caused disruption. But they’ve also created new industries, new opportunities, and yes—new jobs. Let’s revisit a few examples of technological advancements that once stirred panic, but never erased life as we know it.

Cars

• The fear: Workers in horse-drawn carriage manufacturing and related trades feared mass unemployment.
• The reality: The auto industry created millions of jobs in manufacturing, sales, road construction, and driving.

Personal computers

• The fear: In the 1970s and 1980s, office workers, typists, and bookkeepers worried computers would replace them.
• The reality: Computers led to entirely new sectors—IT, software, digital marketing—and millions of new jobs. Office roles weren’t eliminated; they evolved.

The internet

• The fear: Brick-and-mortar retailers, travel agents, and stockbrokers feared extinction as the internet empowered people to perform these tasks themselves.
• The reality: The internet became a marketing powerhouse, helping these professionals reach wider audiences worldwide.

VHS (Video home system) tapes

• The fear: Movie theater companies worried home rentals would eliminate the need to see films on the big screen.
• The reality: Despite VHS, Blu-ray, direct-to-video, and streaming, the film industry is thriving—with a current value around $62.86 billion.

Email

• The fear: U.S. postal workers feared major job losses.
• The result: As of 2024, USPS still employs over half a million people. Email accelerated communication, enabled new IT roles, and introduced a faster form of digital correspondence.

New technology brings change—and change can be unsettling. But while some roles evolve or fade, many adapt and flourish. So what does AI mean for the learning and development field?

Learning & development

• The fear: AI will replace instructional designers and eLearning developers. Perfect courses will be created with a single click with no need for human interaction.
• The reality: AI has streamlined parts of course creation, but effective, human-centered learning experiences still require real expertise. Simple tasks may be automated, but deeper, strategic work remains in the hands of L&D professionals. Those who embrace AI and learn to integrate it skillfully are the ones most likely to succeed.

So what’s next? How do you prepare?

1. Stick to the facts. Don’t let fear or wild speculation cloud your judgment. Rely on provable information.
2. Stay current. Keep up with the latest AI tools and trends in your field. Understand what’s out there and how it works.
3. Adopt a growth mindset. Be curious instead of resistant. Explore how AI can support your development.
4. Practice consistently. Use AI regularly to build comfort and confidence. The more you use it, the more you grow.

AI is evolving rapidly, but fear-driven headlines are not a reliable roadmap for the future. History shows us that technology is a catalyst for transformation, not obsolescence.

AI is not the author of the next chapter—it's a powerful new pen. The story of learning, growth, and human potential is still yours to write. The professionals who will thrive are not those who fear this new tool, but those who pick it up and master the art of creating with it.