Is 'Artificial Intelligence' just a buzzword, or does it truly deliver for the eLearning industry? AI has certainly expedited training material production, boosting efficiency and cost-effectiveness. However...
Amid the hype, the eLearning community's challenge remains the same: crafting exceptional content that actually has an impact. Unfortunately, almost all the features of AI in training focus on making training cheaper and quicker, not improving the training content or experience.
As a training developer, I can hand the reins to an AI engine and churn out a factually accurate eLearning course so quickly that it’s almost embarrassing. But, at this point in AI development – it’ll be garbage to watch. And there’s a ton of garbage training already out there. And more garbage made even cheaper creates a more garbage problem. Seriously.
Why?
AI has never sat at a desk. It doesn’t put learning in the context of real life with any skill. You still need humans to humanize that topic. AI struggles to engage the disinterested, multitasking, or skeptical learner in the back of the virtual classroom with humor, emotion, or empathy.
AI writing generally stinks, AI storytelling is wooden, and AI animations are stab-me-with-a-fork torture to watch. For effective learning, a human touch is still essential.
Lastly, training is a key component of your ongoing conversation with your workforce. What do you want to say about the quality of the training experience you provide? Their training should reflect respect and acknowledgment of their intelligence and value.
So, while AI may be the current “buzz” in training, the human touch still fuels meaningful impact.