From Scrolling to Social Intelligence: How AI Will Free BCBAs to Focus on People

Oct 18, 2024

So I’ve been hammering home the point that, as BCBAs, our role is increasingly becoming one of case management. Now, I know there are a lot of us who love to nerd out over the technical aspects of ABA—the assessments, the behavior plans, the data analysis. I love that stuff too—don’t get me wrong.

But lately, I’ve been focusing more on the non-clinical skills we need to hone: time management, interpersonal communication, and the ability to coach and train others. So, why do I keep coming back to these "non-ABA" skills?

Let me explain. (Or just watch the video of me explaining below…)

The Rise of AI and How It Will Change Our Job

I’m going to make a prediction here.

As technology continues to advance, particularly in the realm of AI, I believe we’re going to see a shift in how we, as BCBAs, approach clinical decision-making.

Don’t freak out.

I’m not saying that AI will replace us—what we do is too human and too important to simply turn over to a machine on auto-pilot. My prediction, however, is that it will likely make our clinical decision-making process faster and more efficient. Imagine sitting in a consultation with a kiddo and, instead of spending hours combing through journal articles or old case files, you can simply ask an AI language model of some kind to pull up relevant articles, suggest potential programs, and provide clinical insights. It’s like having a personal assistant who’s always ready to retrieve the relevant info you need.

Right now, we rely heavily on our experience and the resources we’ve accumulated over the years—whether it’s from CEUs or carefully curated Google Drive folders of PDF copies of journal articles we’ve downloaded. For those of us who have been in the field for a while, our ability to make good clinical decisions comes from the time we’ve put in. The more clients we’ve worked with, the more we’ve probably been able to build a working library of interventions, protocols, assessments, journal articles, and job aids, etc.

But what if new BCBAs could access that same wealth of knowledge instantly, without needing to build it up over years? That’s where the AI comes in.

You have a colleague who needs to read this!

AI Won’t Replace Us—But It Will Make Part Of Our Job Easier

All of what I’m saying here is—of course—speculation at this point. But it’s an educated speculation. And I’ve been paying attention to what AI can do.

It’s likely that AI will be able to pull up relevant journal articles, present programming ideas, and even ask us clarifying questions to help us hone in on the best clinical decisions. It won’t make the decision for us—that’s our job and that’s our responsibility. But it will give us the tools to make that decision faster and with more confidence. For new BCBAs, this will be a game-changer. They’ll be able to access high-quality information more quickly and make informed decisions without needing to spend years building their own personal resource libraries.

And this isn’t just some far-off, sci-fi fantasy. If you’ve used tools like ChatGPT, you already know the potential AI has to streamline tasks and deliver valuable insights. Imagine being able to consult an AI assistant during a session, getting immediate access to potential interventions, and speeding up the process of clinical decision-making.

So, What Happens When Clinical Decision-Making Gets Easier?

If our clinical decision-making becomes faster and more efficient, what are we left with? A lot of the time we currently spend scratching our heads, trying to figure out which program to implement or how to tweak a behavior plan, will shrink down. So, what do we do with that extra time?

That’s where case management comes in.

As BCBAs, our role will shift more and more towards managing the broader picture: guiding the implementation of programs, coaching RBTs, and working with families. And this isn’t just a guess—this is already happening. Clinical decision-making is just one part of our job, but as AI takes on more of that burden, the real work will be in managing relationships and making sure the programs we’ve designed are being implemented effectively.

Case Management: The Core of Our Future Role

Think about it: if AI helps you make clinical decisions faster, you’re going to have more time to spend on what really matters—building relationships with your team and your clients. You won’t be sitting there staring at data, trying to figure out the best course of action. Instead, you’ll find an increased amount of time to teach your RBTs, train the parents, and spend more time directly interacting with the kiddos.

The human aspect of our job—those interpersonal skills that don’t always get the attention they deserve—will become even more crucial than they ever have before. Your ability to communicate, to coach, to manage relationships will be what sets you apart as a great BCBA. You won’t just be a data-driven clinician; you’ll be a mentor, a leader, and a case manager.

Why This Shift Matters

Like any curve, it usually pays to get ahead of it.

As tech continues to evolve, we’re going to have more time on our hands. But that time won’t just be "free." The irony here is that new tech won’t turn every one robotic. On the contrary, AI tech will require us to be more human…and more relational. Why? Because it’s the thing we can do that AI tech can’t.

So get ready. Think about your clinical skills—these will always be important. But, think hard about your relational, management, and leadership skills. Technology can’t take that away from you.

Martin Myers is a BCBA with a passion for helping improve the field of ABA. He is the creator of BxMastery, with over 4,000 goal ideas, sequenced, to inspire your programming. With 10+ years of experience in the field, he’s dedicated to empowering others and fostering positive change through effective leadership and communication. Connect with Martin on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more insights and updates.