AI Is Already On Your Team, You Just Haven’t Defined Its Role Yet

Most of us talk about AI as tools, but this leads to asking the wrong question: “What AI tools should we adopt.”

A better question to ask as you update your talent strategy and think about how to organize the work is: “What roles do we need on our team and which ones will be held by AI?” This positions AI as a team member with a clearly defined role.

From Tools to Teammates

When we think of AI as software, we focus on features, but when we think of AI as a coworker, we focus on responsibilities. This shift unlocks far more strategic use of AI and helps organizations avoid the chaos of adding AI everywhere without understanding how it truly creates value.

Below are three personas for how AI can function inside L&D teams today:

1. Concierge

“Let me help you find what you need.”

In this role, AI connects people to the things that make them better. It curates learning paths, answers, “where do I find…?”, and surfaces relevant resources at the moment of need.

Think of the concierge as the calm, organized colleague who has an expert handle on your internal and external learning inventory and connects people to the right resource at the right time.

2. Coach/Mentor

“Let’s make you better at what you do.”

As a coach/mentor, AI can support skill-building through modeling, practice, feedback, and reflection. It can help learners create development plans and support real-time problem-solving in the flow of work.

Used thoughtfully, the AI coach/mentor can make learning continuous, embedded into daily work and not just limited to formal learning events. It can also work in partnership with a human coach/mentor.

3. Assistant

“I’ll handle the logistics so you can do the real work.”

The AI assistant manages the learning calendar, scheduling sessions, sending reminders, and managing all the logistics tied to learning. It takes notes when they need it to and it tracks their engagement, sending them nudges if their participation drops.

This role makes learning easier by removing logistical barriers to learning.

The Role of Humans

Getting clear on what AI can’t do clarifies what human roles are needed on a hybrid human-AI team. Strategy and management are two key roles we need humans to play.

While humans will manage AI coworkers, we’re unlikely to see AI roles managing humans - at least in the foreseeable future. Human L&D team members will play a product/AI role manager and will need their own training to develop this capability.

Human L&D leaders will also continue to oversee human-with-human peer learning and peer learning communities. This is because while AI can offer peer simulation, it can’t replicate the magic that happens when humans learn together - and this is too good to lose.

Closing reflections

So, based on your team’s vision and purpose, what roles do you need on your team? Which of these roles can be delegated to AI and which must be owned by humans?