AI in Learning: Reflections from the Trenches

Recently I was invited to share my thoughts about working with educational AI, looking back over my experiences in over 10 years in the field. Here’s what I’ve learned about making AI work effectively for learning and development.

The most exciting transformation I’m seeing isn’t automation – it’s personalization at scale. AI can now adapt learning experiences to individual needs while maintaining consistency across large organizations. I’ve seen this work particularly well in global organizations like the UN and various military branches, where maintaining training quality across diverse groups is crucial.

But implementing AI isn’t just about the technology. When I develop personalized learning coaches for clients, I focus first on learning design, then on how AI can support different learning styles and provide adaptive feedback. One manufacturing client saw training time reduce by 40-60% while improving retention rates. A global sales team achieved 45% better skill application using AI-simulated customer interactions.

I’m particularly excited about AI-driven simulations. In healthcare training, these provide safe practice environments where mistakes become learning opportunities rather than critical failures. The key is designing with clear learning objectives in mind, not just implementing technology for its own sake.

Ethics remains fundamental to successful AI implementation. My framework focuses on fairness, transparency, and privacy. This becomes particularly important when AI decisions can impact career development. I recommend a three-step approach: diverse training data, regular bias testing, and human oversight.

For those just starting with AI in learning, I suggest choosing a specific challenge where AI could add clear value – creating practice exercises or providing after-hours learner support. Test, learn, and adjust before scaling up.

The future isn’t about replacing human instructors but augmenting our abilities to reach and support more learners effectively. As learning professionals, we need to maintain our focus on learning outcomes while leveraging AI as a tool to achieve them.

[I’ve developed these insights into practical courses at my AI Academy, designed specifically for learning professionals who want to implement AI effectively in their practice.]