Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a groundbreaking force reshaping Learning and Development (L&D) strategies. Artificial Intelligence encompasses a diverse range of technologies, including machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics. Recent research from LinkedIn shows that four in five people (80 percent) want to learn more about how to use AI in their profession. As organizations strive to remain competitive in an increasingly digital environment, implementing AI in L&D initiatives is key to success. Let’s look at the benefits and challenges of incorporating AI into your training programs.
Benefits of AI in L&D
Increased efficiency and scalability
Developing high-quality educational content can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive process requiring careful planning, research, and design. Off-loading repetitive tasks on AI allows instructional designers (IDs) to focus on the creative and complex aspects of their role. AI-powered tools not only save time for IDs but also ensure that content is up-to-date, relevant, and accessible to learners with diverse needs and backgrounds. David Metcalf, Director of the Mixed Emerging Technology Integration Lab at University of Central Florida, says, “Now, with ChatGPT, EntrepreneurGPT, and other tools, learning objectives, outlines, and even full learning content modules can be produced in minutes to hours rather than days to weeks, then followed up with quality control and subject expert matter review.”
Personalized learning experiences
According to an EdTech Review study, learners using personalized learning technology showed a 15-20 percent higher retention rate compared to those using traditional training methods. AI-powered tools help L&D teams quickly develop personalized learning experiences customized to the needs of a team or individual. With the correct input, detailed personal learning journeys are outlined in seconds. AI can also address the challenge of varied learner needs by delivering personalized learning experiences that adapt in real-time to learners’ interactions and progress. “Each employee has their own aspirations, experiences, and strengths. AI will enable more and more learners to tailor their learning and shape their careers,” says Shruti Bharadwaj, Head of Talent, Learning & Culture at Airtel
Increased return on investment (ROI)
AI can target key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics that are aligned with business goals, assessing an individual learner’s competence. This helps L&D professionals close skills gaps and continuously improve a user’s performance. By being specific and targeted, you can commit to improving a skill set or behavior over a specific period of time, proving you provide a solid ROI. Some L&D teams are already using AI to quickly create customize content. Such personalized learning can improve your ROI by ensuring workers receive the learning they need, when they need it — as opposed to traditional training that is often event-based, one-size-fits-all, and costly. “Imagine if, as an L&D professional, you were able to produce a business case to stakeholders where you could correlate an investment in employee L&D with a quantifiable improvement in operational performance — like revenue increase,” says Adrian Harvey, CEO of Elephants Don’t Forget. “Most organizations would invest more and extract as much value from your training programs across the whole enterprise.”
Real-time feedback and support
Don’t forget the impact of real-time feedback: 80 percent of employees who say they have received meaningful feedback in the past week report being fully engaged with their work — regardless of their status as a remote, hybrid, or full-time office employee. By providing an immediate acknowledgement of correct answers or offering explanations for incorrect responses, AI reinforces learning and helps users track their progress. AI-enabled content delivery platforms also enhance the effectiveness of online learning experiences by providing real-time recommendations to learners. AI algorithms can analyze learners’ interactions with digital content to identify areas for improvement and tailor future trainings accordingly. Chatbots can help learners at any time, wherever they are, answering questions and pointing them to relevant resources. Such feedback is key to a user’s successful learning, especially in remote learning environments where immediate human support may not be available.
Interactive simulations and gamification
Forbes Councils Member Anthony Wong makes a good point: “If The Sims 4, a game that simulates every mundane part of life — from eating and sleeping to washing — can attract 10 million monthly active users, then gamifying your training has the potential to transform business-critical-but-dreaded training into something your employees will actually want to do.” AI tools help IDs create interactive simulations and gamifications, resulting in more engaging learning, which means higher knowledge retention rates. Role-playing scenarios with colleagues is a common way to practice new skills. With AI’s assistance, these can be immediately customized to employee’s needs. Using AI-powered skills assessments, L&D can analyze performance data, individual learning goals, and learning preferences to create a customized learning path for each employee. The app then delivers microlearning modules that include engaging challenges. A role-playing virtual coach can provide personalized feedback, hints, and motivational messages while keeping the user involved and interested in the training. In the meantime, the app tracks the learner’s progress and makes any necessary adjustments to the learning journey — in real-time — ensuring those who excel move up to advanced modules and those who need more support get it.
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Challenges of AI in L&D
Ensuring data privacy and security
Companies are wary about employees entering potentially confidential information into public tools like ChatGPT. As AI tools begin to be monetized, we can expect them to offer enterprise license agreements that allow tools to be privately accessed by employees in an organization’s existing IT infrastructure, minimizing the risk of data leaks. “There’s no question we are in an AI and data revolution,” says Salesforce AI CEO Clara Shih. “But it’s not as simple as taking all of your data and training a model with it. There’s data security, there’s access permissions, there’s sharing models that we have to honor. These are important concepts, new risks, new challenges, and new concerns that we have to figure out together.”
Copyright infringement and liability
In 2023, the Authors Guild brought a class-action lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft for the illegal copying and use of books to training their generative AI models, claiming the companies were knowingly “profiting from mass copyright infringement. Also in 2023, Getty Images, a giant in the stock image industry, sued Stability AI for misusing more than 12 million Getty photos to train their AI image generation system. We have yet to see the outcome of these and other lawsuits that will inevitably follow. In the meantime, it is best to use caution. After using AI to create content, use reverse image searches to ensure what you found is legal to use. Also, fact check content.
Addressing skills gaps
Once AI is more widely adopted, the roles of many professionals are going to change. In 2020, the World Economic Forum estimated that, by 2025, 85 million jobs may disappear due to the division of labor between humans and machines. However, the forum also estimates that we’ll see the emergence of 97 million new roles more adapted to that new division of labor. Businesses need to start addressing this now, planning how they will retrain their workforce. L&D professionals will also see a shift in their roles, from being creators to primarily serving as editors. They will focus more on customizing content to a company’s culture, fact-checking information, facilitating, and managing programs.
Creating a culture that supports AI-driven learning
Company culture plays a key role in the successful adoption and implementation of any transition, and AI is no different. For the best results, introducing it into everyday work life must be well-planned and implemented with buy-in from across the organization. “A workplace that embraces AI can result in a happier, more engaged workforce. This culture shift towards AI also fosters an environment of innovation and curiosity, replacing fear of the unknown with the excitement of discovery, says Eduardo Vedes, a software engineer at Flexiana.
Inaccurate information
Just this past April, an AI-powered chatbot created to help small business owners dispensed bad advice, misstating local policies and advising companies to violate the law. “They’re rolling out software that is unproven without oversight,” said Julia Stoyanovich, Director of the Center for Responsible AI at New York University. AI currently can’t be trusted to generate completely accurate information all the time. All AI output should be thoroughly reviewed and fact-checked by knowledgeable professionals who can make such judgements.
Ensuring ethical use of AI
As with most technological advances, ethical issues must be addressed. Create AI-related policies that clearly outline where AI usage is acceptable and where it is not. Organizations must constantly work to reduce bias that AI algorithms “learn” from data. Scheduling regular reviews and implementing fact-checking processes can help. Emerging AI-powered L&D tools can nearly automate some tasks and processes, leading to the fear or reality of job loss for some workers. Companies should invest in upskilling and reskilling programs to support these employees. Robin Bordoli at Authentic Ventures states, “AI is sometimes incorrectly framed as machines replacing humans. It’s not about machines replacing humans, but machines augmenting humans.”
Final Thoughts
As AI continues to evolve, its impact on L&D will only grow, creating a shift in how organizations approach talent development and skill acquisition. Using the power of AI will help companies benefit from their workforce’s full potential, driving innovation and productivity. Such competitive advantages are key to success in today’s constantly changing global economy. Embracing AI is not just an option, but imperative for businesses committed to future success.
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Resources
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