The AI Impact Timeline: What to Expect
The impact of AI on Regulatory Affairs Managers will unfold in distinct phases. Junior regulatory coordinators and submission specialists face displacement as early as 2026. By 2028, around 63% of the profession's tasks will be augmented or automated. Senior roles, particularly those involving expert interpretation and cross-functional leadership, can extend careers to 2030 and beyond, indicating a significant transformation by the late stages of this decade.
The early wave of AI impact is already evident, with platforms automating document review, submission preparation, and regulatory tracking. These core activities, representing 40-50% of current workloads, are now being handled by AI. Natural language processing systems are adept at extracting data from clinical study reports and populating eCTD modules.
Mid-wave transformation will see enhanced automation of compliance checks against regulatory standards like FDA CFR Title 21 and EU MDR. AI tools are achieving 85-90% accuracy in flagging compliance gaps. This will further streamline processes, allowing human professionals to focus on higher-level strategic tasks.