Recent advancements in AI have been remarkable, and it has begun to take over many tasks that were previously performed by humans.
While many people feel that “my work has become easier,” there are likely many others who harbor concerns such as, “Will AI eventually take my job too?”
The world of Instructional Design (ID) is no exception.
There may be times when you wonder, “If AI can create a curriculum in an instant, won’t the role of an ID become obsolete?”
So, will the job of an ID really disappear?
In this article, we’ll discuss the future of AI and the role of ID.
Will IDs eventually be replaced by AI?
To put it simply, the “tasks” involved in instructional design (ID) will gradually be replaced by AI.
AI is already exceptionally skilled in the following areas:
- Organizing and summarizing information
- Drafting instructional materials (learning objectives (LOs), quizzes, scripts, etc.)
- Adjusting tone and rephrasing
These are areas where AI will significantly improve efficiency.
If our job were merely to “put instructional materials into shape exactly as instructed,” it would only be a matter of time before we were replaced by AI.
However, what’s important here is that the essence of ID lies not in “tasks,” but in “design.”
Now that we can entrust the tasks to AI, we can instead devote our time to the most crucial question:
“Does this design truly drive behavioral change?”
It’s the same as how the advent of calculators didn’t eliminate accounting jobs.
As the effort required for calculations decreased, the value simply shifted to the judgment of “how to interpret the meaning of the numbers.”
The key is “how to utilize AI”
Whether AI will take away jobs ultimately depends on “how we utilize it.”
For example, you can:
- have AI check for “logical leaps” after creating a storyboard.
- have AI organize “how to best incorporate specific feedback”
By using AI in this way, you can improve the accuracy of your output in advance.
As a result, meetings between humans can be used for “decision-making” and “discussion” rather than just “confirmation.”
AI is, after all, just a tool; it is absolutely up to humans to decide what to achieve.
Three Areas of ID That Can’t Be Left to AI
So, no matter how much AI evolves, what will remain?
I believe it comes down to the following three areas.
1. Interpreting “Organizational Context”
While AI excels at finding general solutions, it cannot handle “circumstances unique to a specific organization.”
Past failures, culture, and unspoken assumptions—designing with these elements in mind is something only humans can do.
2. Extracting SMEs’ “Tacit Knowledge”
Experts often “know how to do it” but “can’t explain it.”
A key role of ID is to verbalize this knowledge through dialogue and transform it into a form that can be learned.
3. Engaging Learners’ “Emotions”
Learning is not merely the transmission of information; it is “behavioral change.”
Motivation, addressing anxiety, and supporting learners through setbacks—these aspects cannot be designed without someone who can empathize with human emotions.
Summary: What Makes an ID Professional Thrive in the AI Era
AI will undoubtedly reduce the amount of “manual work” involved in ID.
However, this does not mark the end of the role—rather, it signifies an evolution.
By mastering AI, we will be able to focus more on “design that only humans can create.”
The stance required of ID professionals moving forward is not to hand over control to AI, but to become masters of AI.
If you’re still spending most of your time on “tasks,” now might be the time to shift your focus back to “design” rather than AI.
Let’s make this powerful tool—AI—our ally and continue to design “learning experiences that truly resonate.”
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