The Ethical Use of Generative AI in Talent Development

In a rapidly changing world where technology touches every aspect of our lives, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)—specifically generative AI—has become one of the hottest topics in industries across the board. Talent development is no exception, and organizations everywhere are exploring how AI can be leveraged to improve productivity, accelerate learning, and enhance employee performance. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and as generative AI becomes more embedded in the learning and development space, ethical considerations must take center stage.

For the most recent episode of The Talent Development Hot Seat podcast I had a chance to interview my friend Jonathan Hodge , the CEO and President of Advantage Performance Group to discuss the ethical implications of using generative AI within learning and development (L&D). This was a result of Jonathan posting a LinkedIn article about the topic and I knew it was something we needed to dig into more on the podcast.

I have known and worked with Jonathan for more than seven years and he actually helped me get my podcast started in 2018 and APG sponsored the show for many years so I'll be forever grateful to his support and was excited to finally have him on the podcast. Here are some of the topics we discussed:

Where AI Meets Talent Development

As highlighted during the episode (Exploring Ethical Guidelines for Using Generative AI in Learning and Development with Jonathan Hodge), generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Notion AI hold incredible potential for transforming the way we design and deliver training programs. AI offers the opportunity to enhance creativity, save time, and personalize learning experiences. However, Jonathan warns that in the race to adopt AI technologies, many organizations might be overlooking critical ethical implications.

One memorable metaphor he used was likening AI’s sudden rise to the American gold rush of the 1800s—a flood of opportunity, accompanied by chaos and lawlessness. To truly capitalize on AI’s potential, the industry must shift away from focusing solely on execution and instead prioritize how and why we use these tools. Policies, Jonathan notes, cannot do this alone. Leadership and intentional behavioral change are key.

How to Use AI Ethically in L&D

Jonathan's team at Advantage Performance Group has created four clear guidelines to govern the ethical use of generative AI. These principles can serve as a valuable roadmap for organizations navigating the AI frontier:

1. Don’t Use Intellectual Property Without Permission Jonathan emphasized that AI should not be used to replicate or convey thought leaders’ models or frameworks without explicit permission. Derived works based on proprietary intellectual property must respect copyright rules and licensing agreements.

For example, if someone were to summarize a thought leader’s book into a leadership training program without permission—or worse, use AI to replicate these insights—it would be a breach of ethical and often legal boundaries. Respecting intellectual property is foundational to ethical AI use.

2. Protect Copyrighted Materials When Using AI As Jonathan elaborated, materials uploaded into AI tools can often be absorbed into the tool’s broader data network, especially if terms of service are not read carefully. To safeguard sensitive or copyrighted materials, it’s critical to use secure, enterprise-level AI platforms and obtain necessary permissions before uploading any content.

This guideline serves as a reminder that even seemingly harmless actions—like loading training materials into AI for optimization—can have unintended consequences if done without proper due diligence.

3. AI-Generated Content is a Starting Point, Not the Final Output The allure of generative AI is that it can deliver content quickly and efficiently. But according to Jonathan, every AI-generated output should be treated as a “first draft.” AI content requires human review, thoughtful revisions, and the infusion of one’s personal voice to truly resonate with its intended audience.

Jonathan shared a learning example from their Talent Development Tuesday newsletter. When the team experimented with allowing AI to generate much of the content, the results were technically correct but lacked the human emotion and personal voice that had connected so deeply with their audience.

4. AI Enhances Creativity and Insights—It Doesn’t Replace Humans Rather than using AI as a shortcut, Jonathan encourages organizations to leverage it as a tool for creative inspiration and enhanced insights. AI works best as an assistant, not a replacement. This mindset positions AI as a collaboration partner, helping humans generate new ideas and perspectives while retaining control of the final results.

Why Ethical AI is a Leadership Challenge

Jonathan makes it clear that guidelines alone won’t be enough to ensure ethical AI use—it’s a leadership issue, requiring intentional behavior change. He pointed out that a large percentage of employees are already “hidden users” of AI, using tools like ChatGPT in their roles without adequate oversight or training.

To fully embrace and benefit from generative AI, organizations must not only establish ethical frameworks but also invest in developing their people’s AI-related skills. Leaders must lead the way by modeling responsible use of AI, engaging teams in dialogue, and providing practical training on how to ethically and effectively harness this transformative technology.

Leading in the New AI Frontier

As we embrace the possibilities offered by generative AI, we must also embrace our responsibility as L&D professionals to use it wisely. Jonathan’s thoughtful articulation of these ethical guidelines invites us to critically evaluate how we incorporate AI into our work.

Companies that effectively combine creativity, insights, and intentionality will not only unlock new learning opportunities but also safeguard trust, intellectual integrity, and innovation within their organizations. To quote Jonathan, “AI is not about transformation—it’s about behavioral change.”

To listen to this full conversation, check out the Talent Development Hot Seat podcast episode featuring Jonathan Hodge. You can also learn more about Advantage Performance Group and their innovative learning solutions at advantageperformance.com.

How is your organization approaching the ethical use of generative AI? Are there lessons from Jonathan’s guidelines that you’re considering? Let’s start the conversation—drop your thoughts and insights in the comments below!

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