How will AI change learning and development?
AI is hot, right! We seem to be dazzled by the light of AI, without getting much heat from this new ‘technological miracle’. Will AI truly revolutionise learning and development in 2024? Will we all be working with our personal AI learning assistants by next summer? Will it offer the miracle that some have promised? Or should we adopt a more critical and down to earth approach with this new technology. Should we be thinking less about the towering shard which AI may become at some point in the future, and instead focus more on putting in place firm foundations that can inform and guide our development and application of AI today as a useful and ethical L&D solution?
I have been pioneering research and thinking in AI for coaching and wider learning and development over the past two years. I believe organisations should think visionary but act practically – combining blue sky thinking for tomorrow, with brown earth digging today.
The future of AI in learning and development
In the future, AI may offer a host of possibilities, such as AI avatar trainers delivering training content through a digital platform, engaging with learners in the moment to answer questions, observing exercises and providing real time feedback. We can also imagine a possible time when AI will be involved in program design, gathering and synthesising data, and culturally applying this to create an organisation specific program which reflects the national laws and cultural norms of the organisation.
However, at present, both remain future scenarios. The evidence from AI tools, such as GPT-4, is that they are unreliable with high levels of data falsification and low levels of competence in some tasks (1). However, the hype can make us believe they are more like Mary Poppins ‘practically perfect in every way’, encouraging an over reliance on the technology, risking reputation (2) and legal claims (3).
An alternative strategy is to build from the ground floor. This might include using AI to inform when learners are ready to move to the next level of learning. It might involve using AI to inform recommendations for learners, based on past topic selections, in a similar way to Netflix. If this can work for movie choices, it can work for learning and development. Such recommendations don’t close down options, and restrict learning, but recognise that individuals have interests and learning priorities and AI can be a useful tool, nudging individuals towards content which supports their learning needs.
Finally, brown earth practical steps might include nudges to encourage individuals to apply the learning, recognising one of the key challenges of learning is the transfer from classroom to boardroom. Nudges and reminders can help managers to recall recent training and encourage both experimentation and reflection on these new behaviors.
As organisations move forward, their first steps need to be underpinned by new organisational policies making clear how employees should use AI and setting boundaries for its use. As professionals, we need to make clear when AI was involved in the production of content, while also being aware that AI isn’t correct 100% of the time and human intervention is still necessary.
Possible uses of AI in L&D
Assessment of learner readiness
Recommendation learning based on previous experience, preferences, etc.
Supporting behavioral practice between learning sessions
Providing feedback/questions on reflective journal content
AI developed learning program content
AI led training delivery
AI will revolutionise learning and development over the next twenty years, but like the internet, this revolution will not come overnight. A step-by-step approach can allow all of us to put in place the safeguards individuals’ and organisations’ need, and slowly test the technology to apply it where it can add most value now, while continuing to keep an open mind about its potential for tomorrow.
Jonathan Passmore is a Professor of Coaching & Behavioral Change at Henley Business School, Senior Vice President at EZRA and Chair of EZRA’s Science Board
References
(1) Passmore, J. & Tee, D. (2023). The Library of Babel: Assessing the powers of Artificial Intelligence in coaching conversations and knowledge synthesis, Journal of Work Applied Management.
(2) BBC (2023) ChatGPT: US lawyer admits using AI for case research, 27 May 2023 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65735769
(3) FT (2023) Lawyers keep an eye on copyright risk with generative AI, 14 June 2023 https://www.ft.com/content/704d0bba-2653-4a27-bee1-ee45c6ed1080