How artificial intelligence is set to transform learning in 2024

‍In 2024, artificial intelligence (AI) could mean a new era for learning and development – creating vivid value for educators and instructors by supporting and complementing their efforts. When AI is leveraged to power so-called “copilot tools” – intelligent assistants that relieve human instructors of rote work – L&D teams can benefit from course creation on a mass scale with fewer resources.

AI technology will leave a multi-faceted impression by helping trainers and L&D teams maximize their productivity and creativity. But to harness the full potential of the technology, businesses must first understand the full scope of AI for L&D.

AI will turbocharge upskilling and reskilling in 'the era of turbulence'

As soon as this year, AI-powered solutions will play a part in alleviating pressure on trainers and L&D teams to rapidly develop training for vital skills. This is crucial, as the WEF predicts that the global workforce is entering ‘a new era of turbulence’, with 25% of roles dramatically changing over the next five years.

Changing skill requirements place L&D teams under increasing pressure to create new training courses on a mass scale. Data suggests three quarters of HR and business leaders are struggling to develop training courses with current resources. As the gap widens between those who can keep up and those who can’t, businesses in the latter category may find themselves falling behind, unable to fill vital skill gaps and becoming less competitive.

Building and delivering quality, impactful courses has always taken time, resources, and headspace – already scarce in today’s fast-paced world. AI-powered solutions will increasingly address these deficits and change the educational experience for the better. L&D teams will be able to reallocate their time more effectively to meet new workforce demands.

AI use will become more refined with oversight by real people 

While AI presents an opportunity to vastly benefit L&D staff, many will remain sceptical of AI application in their daily arsenal of tools. Early limitations of AI applications cast a shadow of doubt about the technology’s trustworthiness. Instances of AI producing inaccurate or nonsensical content have gone viral with flawed “hallucinatory” answers drawing attention and scepticism. 

But these early AI applications represent AI use in its raw form. This year, AI applications will appear in more controlled, contextualized, and curated forms. Better-controlled AI tools can offer accurate experiences tailored to individual business processes – all with the help of human overseers.

In L&D environments, more refined forms of AI will become more proactive for users, rather than waiting for inputs. They will streamline curriculum creation, combining multiple models with human oversight to ensure accuracy. With experienced L&D professionals guiding the AI tools, employees stand to benefit.

AI will help build a versatile ‘jack-of-all trades’ workforce

In this way, these new proactive forms of AI stand to help businesses achieve more versatile and adaptable worker groups.

To weather this ‘new era of turbulence,’ we’re seeing many businesses seek broader skillsets in their employees, including soft skills like delivering and accepting feedback. This drives more focus in entry level L&D programs on foundational skills including communication, time management, leadership, interpersonal skills, task prioritization and problem solving.

In 2024, AI will help businesses achieve this focus by taking a more modular approach to L&D. With greater support for skill development in these areas, AI can support soft-skill training delivered in a bite-sized, bespoke way. This will help businesses build teams prepared to take on a multitude of future challenges.

The answer’s in AI

As AI is increasingly integrated into L&D departments, it will become fundamental to helping businesses address key challenges. Deployed properly, AI will play a huge role in giving time back to overtaxed personnel, saving their organizations money and ultimately helping the L&D industry rise to meet ever-changing upskilling needs.  

By adopting commercial solutions with AI co-pilots businesses and L&D teams can benefit from using AI easily and securely. These modern learning platforms can offer a unified solution for both content development and delivery – leveraging fast-advancing AI capabilities to set a new benchmark for efficient, effective personalized learning.

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