Six Important Disciplines for Using AI in Learning & Development

Organizations constantly search for creative and innovative ways to drive learning and development initiatives in today's fast-paced and rapidly evolving business environment. Recent trends include content curation, learning academies, and social marketing techniques.?

Just as L&D departments began implementing their 2023 learning plans, a massive innovation appeared in ChatGPT. The release of OpenAI's Large Language Model (LLM) platform has Silicon Valley experts calling this moment "more significant than the internet boom of the late 90's". This incarnation of artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool, providing opportunities to streamline and enhance L&D production workflows.?

"more significant than the internet boom of the late 90's"

Last month, our "dirty secret" of using ChatGPT, Jasper.ai, and now Bing Chat to create learning objectives, multiple choice questions, course outlines, and storyboards has shifted towards normalization for educational content creation within the L&D function. However, professionals must possess core competencies to leverage AI in Learning and Development effectively.

In this post, I'll explore six key disciplines that provide a roadmap for L&D professionals seeking to utilize AI-based tools like ChatGPT effectively.

Basic Knowledge of AI?

Demonstrate an understanding of AI and its applications in Learning and Development.

Before diving into the deep end of the AI pool, you and your L&D team members must understand the basics of generative AI.?

It's essential to have a working knowledge of machine learning, natural language processing, and other generative AI-based tools and technologies available on the market. Incorrect facts, wrong attribution, poor math, information only up to 2021, and no current connection to the internet are all issues with ChatGPT.?

The more you understand the negative aspects of generative AI, the easier it will be to avoid pitfalls.?

AI platforms can generate code, text, images, audio, and video. Consider all the forms of training content used during a learning journey. Generative AI now influences the creation of each instance.?

Additionally, understanding AI's potential benefits and limitations in creating educational media can help professionals decide when and how to implement these tools to achieve creative and productivity gains.

Social and Ethical Implications of AI

Investigate the social, economic, and political systems that influence AI-based tools and their impact on justice, equity, and ethical conduct.

Unfortunately, generative AI tools like ChatGPT have the potential to influence social, economic, and political issues in several ways. There may be profound implications resulting from the inadequacies of these large language models.?

In the field of Learning & Development, the potential impact of AI is more likely to be associated with social and economic concerns. Still, there should be awareness of its political ramifications as well.

Learning professionals increasingly use large language models to generate text for chatbots, virtual assistants, and educational content. Models with biases or inaccuracies could perpetuate harmful stereotypes and spread misinformation. Increasing polarization, decreasing trust in institutions, and other adverse outcomes could result.

In addition, deficiencies in these models, such as errors in translation or inaccuracies in your material, could reduce productivity and economic growth. Models must be accessible to a wide range of businesses and individuals, or it could increase inequality in technology access and economic opportunities.

Generative AI will be used in political campaigns and social media. Inaccuracies or biases in these models could spread misinformation and manipulate public opinion. A lack of transparency and accountability could raise concerns about the role of AI in our society.

In practice, L&D professionals must responsibly use AI-based tools. AI outputs that introduce bias or falsehoods may adversely affect the learning process of individual associates as well as the company's overall efficiency. A human must review all content before being implemented in a learning solution.

AI-Enhanced Learning Experiences

Create AI-enhanced learning experiences that integrate diverse sources of information to deliver effective and engaging training.

AI will revolutionize corporate learning and development because of the ability to analyze and process large amounts of data. These capabilities will enable learners to acquire knowledge and skills more efficiently while providing personalized learning pathways customized to their current skill levels and goals.?

For example, AI-powered chatbots can provide immediate feedback to front-line sales looking for specific client solutions or trying to learn about new products. By fine-tuning models, AI can ingest vendor opportunities and dynamically priced products at scale, allowing a sales team to focus on data-driven solutions for their customers.??

AI will be able to help identify learners who are falling behind or struggling with certain concepts and provide targeted interventions to help them catch up. Additionally, AI can help curate learning content and recommend resources tailored to individual learners.

The creation of educational media will be automated through generative AI, including training videos, podcasts, and, eventually, eLearning courses. This new reality will level the playing field for instructional designers needing more media creation skills, ultimately allowing Learning & Development to create personalized, immersive learning experiences representing the entire learning journey.?

As a result, associates' learning experiences will be personalized, curated, and aligned to their individual and organizational learning objectives and goals.?

Evidence-based Evaluation of AI Tools

Assess their quality, accuracy, safety, context appropriateness, and biases in order to support learning and development.

To ensure the quality, accuracy, safety, contextual appropriateness, and biases of AI-based tools, the Learning and Development function must assess them. Having standard operating procedures for using AI is essential to ensure they provide beneficial outcomes.?

The data sets that support AI models inside and outside the corporate firewall must be evaluated to confirm that they are accurate and appropriately defined for the particular task or function. Garbage in - garbage out.?

As mentioned earlier, data that is biased can cause incorrect results, so it's essential for corporations investing in AI-based tools for Learning and Development purposes to do their due diligence to ensure the AI will produce safe and appropriate content.?

By using evidence-based evaluations, companies can be confident that their AI investments will maximize efficiency and effectiveness.

Workflow Analysis for AI Tools

Determine how to implement AI-based tools in Learning and Development while analyzing and adjusting teams, roles, responsibilities, and workflows.

Working with AI-based tools in the L&D function can be a successful endeavor for any corporation. Still, it comes with the caveat of ensuring that all team members, roles and responsibilities are updated. This effort includes monitoring any changes in workflow due to generative AI implementation.?

To ensure a smooth transition across teams and roles, you must thoroughly analyze your current workflows and adapt as necessary each time you add a generative AI tool. By doing this, leaders can implement powerful new tools quickly without sacrificing productivity or creating confusion across teams when AI outputs may remove a manual process.?

The result? Teams that are satisfied with the proper implementation of generative AI tools will operate more efficiently and clearly understand what is expected.

Learning and Improvement Regarding AI Tools

Engage in professional development and practice-based improvement activities related to the use of AI tools in learning and development.

Developing content with generative AI-based tools for Learning and Development opens up an exciting new world of opportunities to optimize the training creation process.?

To make the most of generative AI, organizations must invest in continuous professional development and practice-based improvement activities for L&D professionals to ensure efficient implementation and use of AI tools. These skills include prompt engineering, AI tool evaluation, and checking AI-generated training content effectiveness through rubrics and analytics.?

Doing so can maximize efficiency in using AI to tackle learning challenges, increase associate engagement, and unlock new possibilities for training and development.

Conclusion

It's time for Learning & Development teams to take a proactive approach toward embracing the power of Artificial Intelligence in their workplace. With the rapid advancement of this technology, it's essential to keep up-to-date with the latest developments and understand the implications of using AI tools.

L&D professionals must commit to ongoing training in generative AI technology to hone their prompting skills and increase their ability to evaluate the evidence-based effectiveness of these AI tools.?

Embracing AI will unlock new possibilities and bring about positive disruptions to the way we work.