5 Reasons Why Employers Are Opting into AI in Learning

Artificial intelligence (AI) in learning and development is still relatively early in its rise. When HR Exchange Network recently reported on the state of AI and machine learning, experts revealed that the technology is best used for recruiting and employee engagement.

However, they added that the applications of AI in learning have great potential. More recently, HR Exchange Network posed the question about whether to opt into AI in learning on the platform Terkel.io. Here are the responses: 

The cost of AI, however, is prohibitive for some.

"We've not incorporated AI yet because we honestly cannot understand how it'll be worth the investment. The cost of setting up, tweaking, and otherwise making it work properly outweighs the perceived potential benefits," says Daniel Ndukwu, CMO and Co-Founder of UsefulPDF. "That, coupled with low uptake and completion of learning programs (without forcing people), makes it seem like a sunk cost that'll take years to recoup - if it's ever recouped."

Customized Learning

Still, other organizations are already experimenting with AI in learning and development programs. One of the biggest draws is the ability to tailor learning for the individual. 

"AI allows us to create customized experiences for our learners that can simulate real-world scenarios. This helps them to better understand complex concepts and learn new skills more quickly," says Erik Pham, Managing Editor at Health Canal. "Additionally, AI can provide insights into how our learners are progressing and identify areas where they may need additional support. I decided to incorporate AI into my learning and development program because I believe it has the potential to significantly improve learner outcomes. Additionally, I believe that AI-powered learning and development programs will become more prevalent in the future, so it is important to stay ahead of the curve."

Unique Curriculum

Considering this HR tech as part of a longterm L&D solution, provides the freedom necessary to include it in the budget even at its high price point. 

"We believe that by incorporating AI into our training program, we will be able to more accurately gauge our employees' learning curves. AI gives us more accurate information and insights about the areas in which our employees need to develop," says Martin Lassen, Founder and CEO at GrammarHow. "As a result, we are able to tailor our training course to meet their unique needs. The only drawback of utilizing AI is that it costs a little money upfront to get started. However, we think that in the long run, the benefits exceed the disadvantages."

Automation

In fact, the expectation of AI in learning becoming ubiquitious is enough return on investment for some leaders in the space. They are willing to dive in, and at least one thinks it is a way to save money. 

"We have used a text-to-video AI tool to create learning and development videos, as we wanted to create courses faster and without any external help," says Vitalii Romanchenko, CEO of Elai.io. "It was definitely a notable change, especially in terms of spending fewer costs and less time. The results are perfectly satisfactory. I can say that having a human avatar in a video is definitely a good thing and employee engagement is high. Moreover, the same video was translated and narrated in multiple languages without the need to reshoot or hire voice actors."

Another Tool in the Toolbox

In Elai.io's instance, AI made it possible to do things that would be far more challenging with people. There was no need to hire voice actors, for example. This kind of talk makes humans and those managing talent nervous. It feeds into the fear of robots taking over the world and rendering humans useless. The truth is that it will probably never happen. While these types of technology can automate parts of certain businesses, they serve as tools to the humans leading the charge. 

"As a result of the ability of AI-based training programs to be adapted to meet the requirements of each specific employee, it is possible to ensure that all employees are provided with relevant information at the right time," says Rameez Usmani, Digital Marketing Expert at The Stock Dork. "Because of this, workers are able to spend less time learning and more time applying what they've learned to the tasks they do on a regular basis at work."

The L&D Solution of the Future

Others find the ability to allow employees to work asynchronously, get around-the-clock technical help, and retrieve personalized test results that can help them shape their future learning make AI a valuable tool that will lead L&D into its next chapter. 

"Although AI has advanced a lot in the past few years, it still hasn't reached the point where it can substitute a human trainer or coach. AI can still be used for general and surface level learning and development," says Tiffany Homan, Editor at Rental Property Calculator. "However, the more complex and narrowed down areas in the learning curve still require the personal touch of a human's experience. That's why I haven't completely transitioned to AI-based learning and development programs yet. But I believe in the coming years, it'll be more suitable."

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