The way we develop and deliver training content is on the cusp of a transformation. Enter generative AI (GenAI), a powerful technology with the potential to streamline processes and unlock a new era of effective employee development.
While creating high-quality training content has traditionally been a time-consuming and resource-intensive endeavor, GenAI offers a compelling solution. According to Gartner, 55% of organizations are now experimenting with or implementing GenAI technologies. However, a concerning statistic from an IBM report reveals a gap – less than a third of CEOs have assessed GenAI's potential impact on their workforce before implementation. This article examines the predicted influence of GenAI on businesses and how to use it to improve corporate learning and development.
This article was originally published by the Brandon Hall Group and written by Matt Pittman in February 2024.
Generative AI (GenAI) has the potential to revolutionize the way we develop and deliver training. Training content plays a pivotal role in employee development, external learner success and organizational results but creating high-quality training content can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive process.
In fact, respondents to Brandon Hall Group™ surveys consistently point to learning and development (L&D) as one of the primary use cases for GenAI in HR practice, and nearly three-quarters of respondents agreed that GenAI will have a positive impact on their organizations in 2024.
Absorb LMS, a Brandon Hall Group™ Preferred Provider, has tackled this head-on with Absorb Create, the newly expanded GenAI powered course creation toolset.
Unlocking the power of GenAI for training content
Corporate training is evolving like nearly every other area of work and GenAI is emerging as a transformative force. By harnessing the capabilities of GenAI, organizations can streamline content creation, enhance personalization, improve engagement, and increase accessibility, ushering in a new era of effective and efficient employee development. Craig Basford, Executive Vice President of Product at Absorb, shared his perspective in a recent episode of the ROI Podcast. Basford shared that Absorb is excited by how GenAI is allowing us to look at problems that have been around through a different lens and to solve those in new ways.
Streamlined content creation
One of the most significant advantages of GenAI lies in its ability to automate various aspects of content development. By leveraging natural language processing and machine learning algorithms, GenAI can generate high-quality training materials in a fraction of the time it would take using traditional methods. This automation not only reduces the workload for instructional designers but also allows them to focus on higher-level tasks, such as curriculum design and learner engagement strategies.
Read the blog: How to improve your online courses with the help of GenAI
Enhanced personalization
GenAI enables the creation of personalized learning experiences that cater to the specific needs, interests, and preferences of individual learners. By analyzing data on learner performance, learning styles, job roles or external learner roles, GenAI can tailor content to provide a more relevant and engaging learning experience. This level of personalization enhances knowledge retention, boosts motivation, and ultimately leads to improved employee performance.
Improved learner engagement
GenAI-generated content is known for its ability to capture learners’ attention and drive engagement. Interactive elements, such as quizzes, simulations, and videos, enhance the learning experience, making it more enjoyable and effective. And when that content is reflective of well-versed subject matter expert (SME) knowledge, it is increasingly relevant to learners. Relevance always drives engagement.
Increased accessibility
GenAI breaks down barriers to learning by generating content in multiple formats, including text, audio, and video. This diversity ensures that training content is accessible to learners with different learning preferences and abilities. Additionally, GenAI can translate content into various languages, making it accessible to a global workforce.
Enhancing learning experiences with GenAI
Generative AI can be used to enhance learning experiences by creating immersive and realistic learning environments. This can be done by using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies to create simulations and scenarios that allow learners to practice their skills in a safe and controlled environment. The use of immersive learning drives knowledge retention.
GenAI can also be used to create personalized learning paths for individual learners. This can be done by tracking the learner’s progress and identifying areas where they need additional support. For example, if a learner is struggling with a particular concept, GenAI can recommend additional resources or activities that can help them to master it.
GenAI can also provide real-time feedback and progress tracking. This can help learners to stay on track and to identify areas where they need additional support. For example, a learner could receive feedback on their performance after completing a quiz, or they could track their progress over time to see how they are improving.
By using GenAI to enhance learning experiences, organizations can create more effective and engaging training programs that can help employees to develop the skills they need to be successful.
Overcoming challenges in GenAI-created training content
While GenAI offers immense potential for training content creation, there are certain challenges that need to be addressed to ensure the effectiveness and reliability of the generated content. One primary concern is the accuracy and reliability of the information produced by GenAI models. These models are trained on vast datasets, and any biases or inaccuracies present in the training data can be perpetuated in the generated content. To overcome this challenge, it is crucial for learning and HR teams to carefully curate and validate the training data, ensuring that the information provided is accurate and up to date. Additionally, human oversight and review of the generated content are essential to identify and correct any errors or biases.
Another challenge in using GenAI for training content creation lies in maintaining consistency and coherence throughout the generated material. Content created by GenAI may exhibit variations in style, tone, and structure. To address this, organizations should establish clear guidelines and templates for the GenAI-generated content, ensuring a consistent and cohesive learning experience for the users. Furthermore, human editors can review and refine the generated content to maintain a consistent voice and style throughout the training material.
It is also important to consider the potential legal and ethical implications associated with using GenAI for training content creation. As GenAI models are trained on copyrighted material, there is a risk of inadvertently infringing upon intellectual property rights. To mitigate this risk, organizations should ensure that they have the necessary licenses and permissions to use the training data and that the generated content does not infringe upon any existing copyrights. Additionally, organizations should establish ethical guidelines for using GenAI to ensure that the generated content is fair, unbiased, and respectful of diverse perspectives.
Realizing the value of training content creation with GenAI
GenAI revolutionizes training content creation, offering a plethora of advantages that streamline processes, reduce costs, enhance engagement, ensure scalability, and maintain consistency. It is a tool that enables L&D teams to elevate their focus to remain strategic and competitive while still allowing for production needs to be met.
Streamlined content development
GenAI automates text generation, image creation, and even audio and video production, significantly reducing the time and effort required to produce high-quality training materials. Organizations can now develop comprehensive training content in a fraction of the time compared to traditional methods.
Cost efficiency
By reducing the need for extensive human involvement, GenAI slashes costs associated with hiring writers, designers, and other creative professionals. Moreover, it minimizes expenses related to content updates and revisions, as modifications can be made swiftly and easily. It’s important to recognize that reducing human involvement does not mean eliminating it altogether.
Enhanced learner engagement
GenAI tailors content to individual learners, ensuring they remain engaged and motivated throughout the training process. Interactive elements like quizzes, simulations, and virtual reality scenarios transform learning into an immersive and enjoyable experience, boosting its effectiveness.
Scalable content creation
Unlike traditional methods that struggle to cope with increasing training content volumes, GenAI effortlessly scales to meet the demands of large-scale training initiatives. It can rapidly generate vast amounts of content without sacrificing quality, catering to organizations with extensive employee or learner bases.
Absorb set out to build a tool that is intuitive, powerful and delivers real value to corporate training teams. Launched in early 2024, Create AI is transforming corporate training. Beginning with the premise that the use case for GenAI in training is universal, Absorb has create a tool that can be leveraged to drive employee growth and external learner success in equal measure.
Key takeaways
As corporate learning teams are evaluating the role they need GenAI to play in their strategies, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.
- GenAI should be viewed as and treated as a tool for improving work. It should not be seen as a replacement for good process, but a critical input to the process.
- Content generated through AI is the starting point. Human intelligence and expertise is still needed to validate, review and edit content to ensure both accuracy of information and consistency of style and tone.
- GenAI can deliver real value in corporate learning and development. It also requires effective management to realize that value. Learning leaders open up more strategic bandwidth when leveraging GenAI in their workflows to ensure results.
Want to learn more about how to use GenAI in training? Check out this demonstration: The Future of Course Development with Create AI
