2025 Trend: More GenAI in the workplace

One trend is becoming impossible to ignore: the rapid rise of Generative #AI (GenAI).

From drafting emails to customer support chatbots, the technology is automating repetitive tasks, boosting productivity, personalizing content, enhancing customer experiences, and facilitating accessibility. Here is a small sample of how GenAI is being used by different departments in organizations today:

1. Marketing

• Content: Writing blogs, social media posts, emails, and ad copy.
• Design: Generating visual assets, logos, and marketing materials.
• Video/audio production: Creating scripts, voiceovers, and video content.

2. Customer Success and Customer Support

• Chatbots: Providing instant, AI-driven responses to customer queries.
• Personalized support: Tailoring solutions based on customer interactions and preferences.
• Knowledge base management: Generating and updating FAQs and support documentation.

3. Software Development

• Code generation: Writing code snippets, debugging, and suggesting improvements.
• Testing automation: Creating test cases and automating QA processes.
• Documentation: Generating developer guides and API documentation.

4. HR and Recruitment

• Resume screening: Analyzing and filtering candidate resumes for specific roles.
• Job descriptions: Crafting detailed and optimized job postings.
• Employee engagement: Creating personalized learning paths or wellness initiatives.

5. Business Operations

• Data analysis: Interpreting datasets, summarizing insights, and generating reports.
• Forecasting: Predicting trends in sales, customer behaviour, or resource needs.
• Workflow automation: Automating routine administrative tasks like scheduling or report creation.

Education departments are using more GenAI

Customer education and L&D teams are also leveraging more GenAI to streamline training creation, and in 2025, we will see even greater adoption of tools.

Take the example of OpenText’s award submission to TSIA. They leveraged multiple AI-enabled tools for training creation, including instructional design automation and content creation, text-to-speech (TTS), translation, speech-to-text, virtual avatars, video production, exam development, AI proctoring and virtual teaching. Mind-blowing!

So, how can education departments use GenAI? Here is a small sample of applications and tools:

Content Development

• Content creation: Tools like LEAi by LearnExperts generate course modules with assessments and test questions for different modalities to meet learning objectives.
• Translation: Tools like DeepL or Google Translate AI enable multi-language course materials for global audiences.
• Identify content gaps: AI tools like Bloomfire or Guru generate suggestions for content.

Visual and Multimedia Generation

• Interactive elements: Tools like Articulate 360 or H5P generate, games, and simulations for engaging learning experiences.
• Video and image creation: Tools like DALL-E and Synthesia create custom visuals and AI-generated video tutorials.
• Virtual presenters: Tools like Synthesia generate realistic AI avatars to deliver scripted content.
• Automated editing: Tools like Adobe Premiere Pro (Sensei AI) use AI to automate tasks like colour correction, cropping, and transitions.
• Text-to-Speech and Speech-to-Text: Tools such as Speechelo and Synthesia make content accessible for learners with diverse needs.
• Motion graphics: Tools like DeepMotion and Runway ML generate animations and motion effects for dynamic storytelling.
• Automatic subtitles and global audiences: Tools like 3Play Media provide closed captioning, transcription, audio description, and dubbing services.

Personalization

• Dynamic learning paths: AI-powered platforms like Skilljar, Docebo AI or LearnUpon create personalized learning paths based on roles and skill levels.
• Scenario-based learning: Tools like BranchTrack help generate interactive scenarios tailored to real-world applications.

Analytics and Insights

• Feedback incorporation: Platforms like Qualtrics use AI to analyze learner feedback and suggest actionable course improvements.
• Content optimization: Tools like Thought Industries or Allego AI provide insights into learner engagement.

Decisions when choosing GenAI tools

The above is just a sample of some of the tools in the marketplace. Hundreds (possibly thousands) of options are available, and it is essential to be thoughtful before committing. Here are my (minimum) tips for selecting AI tools:

• Purpose-built:?Look for a tool trained to perform the task you want to accomplish.
• Data privacy and security:?Look for features like access control that allow the tool to adhere to data protection regulations and handle sensitive information appropriately.
• Integration and compatibility:?Ensure the tool can integrate with other tools in your tech stack.
• User-friendly interface:?Check if the tool is easy for the intended users.
• Support and documentation:?Look for online help, email support and other help options.
• Cost and value:?Evaluate the pricing structure, licensing models, and any additional costs associated with using the tool.

Remember to demo the tool before selecting and getting reference customers to understand their experiences.

Think about change management

Think about the change management for your organization when experimenting with GenAI. Not everyone is at the same acceptance level yet some fear GenAI replacing a component of their job.

Pro Tip! Start with your most significant pain points and see how GenAI solutions and tools can help, prove the use case and then add another. This will allow the team adjust to the changes to process and what they are responsible for versus GenAI assistance.

How about you? What GenAI tools are you using, and what do you consider before selecting one? Leave your thoughts in the comments.