Close to Half of L&D Leaders Worry AI Could Replace Their Roles

A new report from LMS provider LearnUpon reveals a profession in transition, as more than 40% of learning and development leaders express concern that AI could eventually replace their positions. Despite these anxieties, the sector is seeing increased investment, with 66% of U.S. respondents reporting budget growth for 2025. This shift highlights L&D's evolving role as a strategic driver of business performance and employee retention in a cooling labor market.

According to a report released on September 16 by LearnUpon, over 40% of L&D leaders surveyed believe that artificial intelligence has the potential to entirely replace their current roles. This concern is particularly prevalent among professionals in the retail, education, software, and technology sectors. However, this anxiety exists alongside a trend of rising influence, as 66% of U.S.-based respondents indicated that their L&D budgets have increased for 2025. This suggests that while automation is a looming threat, organizations are simultaneously doubling down on the strategic value of human-led training initiatives.

Brendan Noud, CEO and co-founder of LearnUpon, emphasized that the modern L&D mandate has expanded far beyond traditional onboarding or simple knowledge gap fulfillment. He noted that effective learning programs are now viewed as critical tools for reshaping the employee experience, driving overall business performance, and providing organizational stability. This strategic shift is occurring as companies pivot toward long-term retention strategies to foster existing talent, especially as the broader labor market begins to cool.

Despite the growth in influence, the L&D sector faces significant internal and external pressures. LearnUpon's research found that 32% of L&D leaders still struggle with talent acquisition within their own teams, while 31% find it difficult to keep pace with rapid industry changes. Furthermore, 30% cited the alignment of L&D goals with broader business strategy as a top challenge. These findings are echoed by external data from RedThread Research and Schoox, which suggests some employers are still struggling to move beyond mandatory compliance training to more comprehensive developmental programs.