This question plagues my mind most days over my nice warm cup of tea 🍵 (I lead a thrilling life).

Most days, I tire of hearing those two little letters…A…I – but I know this is a crucial moment in the way we live, work, learn and connect. So ignoring it does me no good and you neither.

I’m not an AI expert and I’m not intending to play one on the internet.

I read this insightful piece by Dr Phillipa Hardman on the London School of Economics (yes, I like to pretend I’m smart and fancy sometimes) blog on The invisible cost of resisting AI in higher education. 

It’s a good read, imo.

This resonated with me as someone who has gone deep into the rabbit hole of AI to uncover its potential in the world of learning and development. I mean, you probably knew that from my LinkedIn feed already.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the next digital technology revolution is here.

As we operate in an industry that has been historically (criminally) slow to adapt and adopt the latest digital technologies, along with our buddies in higher education, I feel a sense of dread when I think about how we as L&D pros can move with the times.

After all, history is not on our side.

Reimagining L&D in the Age of AI

I’m not an AI expert and I’m not intending to play one on the internet.

However, I have to practice what I preach as an experimentalist in the L&D field. This has meant plugging into the Matrix to understand what AI could mean for us.

Do I have all the answers? Hell no.

Do I have some thoughts and useful stuff to share? Hell yes!

I’ve collated my last year’s worth of research, experiments and applications with AI in L&D into a neat little crash course with a pretty bow on top. I did this to answer my own questions in this field and share them with you, my fellow industry pro.

The score is this, AI is here and we need to raise our digital intelligence to meet it.

This kinda feels like a red pill, blue pill moment and you know what? I think it is.

If you want to get ahead of all this stuff and cut through the noise to the real applications of generative AI in our industry, then I have an invitation for you.

Come join me and together we’ll learn how to maximise ChatGPT not only for our L&D craft but our careers too.

We’ll move you from newbie to ninja quicker than Neo became the ‘one’.

I’ve talked about crossing our fear gaps to move from the unknown to comfortable and confident before.

The best way to shape your future is by doing and it just so happens that learning by doing is what you need to grow.

The 3-step framework to confidence with Gen AI in L&D

1. Educate yourself

You shouldn’t use any tech without a basic knowledge of how it works.

Access to this information for GEN AI is everywhere. A little education goes a long way. The more you know, the more you can maximise in your work.

Here’s some resources to help you:

1️⃣ Generative AI explained for humans

2️⃣ 4 simple resources to accelerate your AI in work knowledge

3️⃣ A beginners guide to ChatGPT

2. Get clear on what’s useful

Social media tells us 1000’s of new AI tools are released daily.

Truth is 95% of these have nothing to do with AI. They’re sub-par products riding the hype wave. It’s your job to find what’s real and works for you.

→ Suggested reading: How to assess when to use AI tools.

3. Identify use cases

You should never use any piece of tech just because market expectations are high.

You always need a use case. You might find current generative AI tools don’t have any use cases for you, and that’s fine.

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Useful Resources

→ How to decide when and how to use ChatGPT in L&D

→ 3 ways to work smarter with ChatGPT for L&D and HR operators

→ 5 ways to leverage ChatGPT Enterprise for your Talent Strategy

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Before you go… 👋

If you like my writing and think “Hey, I’d like to hear more of what this guy has to say” then you’re in luck.

You can join me every Tuesday morning for more tools, templates and insights for the modern L&D pro in my weekly newsletter.