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When was the last time you went a whole day without hearing the term AI? The artificial intelligence age has arrived, whether you’re ready or not. And for those of us in L&D, it’s knocking on our LMS-shaped doors.

From authoring tools to chatbots and dashboards, AI is quietly weaving itself into our world, even if you haven’t finished rolling out your microlearning strategy.

This blog kicks off a series where we’ll explore the role AI can and will play in L&D. But before we get carried away… let’s ask the big one: does AI even belong in learning in the first place?

We’ll look at where AI genuinely helps, where it creates new risks and where it simply doesn’t belong. This series isn’t about chasing tools or trends — it’s a grounded look at how learning teams can make informed decisions without losing sight of what makes learning work.

Learning is human

Chances are, you chose this career because you love people. You’re here to spark growth, light bulbs, and “ah-ha” moments. So, it makes sense if your gut reaction is “AI doesn’t belong in learning.”

Great learning is built on human connection, empathy and emotion, all the messy, glorious stuff AI can’t touch — yet. It’s the instructional designer who knows when a scenario needs less polish and more honesty, the facilitator who senses when a room has checked out or the coach who pushes at exactly the right moment — and not a second sooner.

So, how can we even consider where AI can fit into our human-centred world? If learning is about people, then surely the robots need to stay in their lane… right?

The reality: it’s complicated

If you’re looking for a definitive answer, sorry, you won’t find it here. This isn’t a black-and-white debate. Most learning decisions aren’t. And pretending otherwise is usually how we end up with expensive tools that look impressive and quietly underperform.

Let’s start with the reasons you’re right to be skeptical:

1. Learning is social (and that matters)
From Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development to Bandura’s social learning theory, we know that learning is relational. Our growth is shaped by the people around us (mentors, peers and coaches) who give us feedback, share stories and ask the right questions at the right time.

AI might be able to replicate responses, but it doesn’t form proper human relationships. And that matters.

2. Learning is deeply intertwined with emotions
Think about the last time you delivered an in-person workshop and gently nudged someone out of their comfort zone, and it clicked? Or maybe a learner messaged you after an elearning module, saying a story you included reminded them of a mistake they made, something they hadn’t thought about in years. That wasn’t just content — it was timing, trust, storytelling, tone and empathy working together. That’s learning.

Yes, some AI models claim to detect emotional states… but it’s not the same as feeling anything. And let’s not forget: the European Union’s AI Act has already banned emotion-recognition in workplaces and schools due to ethical concerns. We can’t rely on AI to manage learner emotions, even if we wanted to.

3. Context is king
Great learning is not just about content — it's about meaning. You know this. A well-timed story from a peer, or a coaching moment tied to your lived experience… that sticks.

Even the best-trained AI might grasp broad contexts, but it still misses the human stuff: culture, power dynamics and experience. It might serve up a technically correct answer, but miss the mark in tone, nuance or bias. In learning, “technically correct” is often the bare minimum — not the goal.

But wait — could AI actually help?

That said, writing AI off entirely ignores some real opportunities, especially when it’s used to support learning rather than steer it.

1. Everyone’s learning journey is different
We’ve all wrestled with the one-size-fits-all approach, designing for that mythical “average learner,” but we also know that humans are unique. AI can personalize experiences on a scale we can’t do manually. Learners could get nudges, resources and support tailored to their role, experience level or pace.

Yes, we must be mindful of nuance. But if it's done right, AI has the potential to make learning more inclusive and effective.

2. Learning in the flow of work… supercharged
Picture this: it's 2:00 a.m., and a learner is struggling with a concept from the training they took earlier in the day. They type a question into your learning management system (LMS). Instead of a dead-end search, an AI assistant trained on your organization’s learning and knowledge content serves up a targeted, bite-sized answer with relevant links.

People are always thinking, usually at inconvenient times. And while your subject matter experts (SMEs) need sleep, AI doesn’t. It’s there, 24/7, ready to help when inspiration — or confusion — strikes.

Is it a substitute for human support? No. But it can bridge the gap between when a learner is ready and when a human is available.

3. Freeing up your time to do more human stuff
How much of your week is spent updating spreadsheets, sending reminders and digging through content libraries? Probably more than you’d like to admit.

Tools like Microsoft Copilot can schedule sessions, summarize feedback, or even draft communications. It can take over many administrative tasks, often the least valuable use of your expertise. This means you get to focus on what you do best: designing powerful, emotional people-first learning.

What this means for you

If you’ve been firmly in the “AI has no place here” camp, it may be time to take a second look — not to override your instincts, but to sharpen them.

AI is not an enemy; it serves as a tool. It never tires, handles tedious tasks effortlessly and may be the assistant you never realized you needed.

The future of L&D doesn’t have to be human or machine. It can — and probably should — be both. Let AI do what it’s good at: processing, pattern-finding and scaling, so humans can focus on empathy, context and connection.

Takeaway tips

Identify your biggest challenge right now. Could AI help with this in any way —even if it just takes on some administrative tasks, so you have more time to focus your brain power on this challenge?
Talk to your team early. If this question is coming up for you, it's coming up for them too. What does AI mean for your team, in your context?
Don’t let AI sink to the bottom of your L&D to-do list. early. Treat it with the same intent you’d apply to any other structural change.

This is just the beginning

There are hundreds of nuances, ethical questions and exciting possibilities when it comes to AI in learning.

But here’s the big idea: L&D is, and will always be, human centred. AI isn’t ready to take on that responsibility, and it shouldn’t. But it can be a powerful support tool. Used well, it can help you focus on the things that matter most: people, context and meaningful learning.

In the rest of this series, we’ll dig into the good, the bad and the genuinely useful — with a clear view of what learning teams should adopt, adapt or avoid altogether.