Is AI our friend or foe?
Should IDs and L&D team members worry about AI impacting their jobs negatively? Is AI our friend or foe or just a fad? Read this post to learn more.....
Aswin Kini MK
10/3/20242 min read
As a fellow Instructional Designer and Learning Design professional, I understand the trepidation some may feel about the rise of Artificial Intelligence, particularly Generative AI (GenAI). Questions like "Is AI a friend or foe?" "Will it replace me?" and "Will it disrupt our industry to our detriment?" are common. I'm here to offer a resounding "No" to these concerns.
Consider the dawn of the industrial revolution when machinery began to replace manual labor. Workers feared for their livelihoods, and some even resorted to destroying the machines they believed were stealing their jobs. Yet, as production demands grew, it became clear that these machines were not replacements but rather tools that, when operated by skilled workers, could vastly increase output and create new opportunities.
Today, we stand at the threshold of a similar revolution. AI is our 'machine,' and we are the modern-day craftsmen. It's natural to feel a temporary unease as we navigate this transition, but remember, we are not just Learning Designers; we are perpetual learners. Our ability to adapt, upskill, and innovate ensures that we will find new ways to thrive.
Here's how AI can be our ally in Learning and Development:
Augment Design Approach: Use AI to curate and create content more efficiently. AI can help us sift through vast amounts of information to find the most relevant content for our learning objectives.
Enhance Content Quality: AI can assist in rewriting content for brevity and clarity, ensuring that our learners receive concise and understandable material.
Complement Content with Media: AI can generate images or videos that enhance our instructional materials, providing learners with a richer, more engaging experience.
Be Proactive: It's up to us to explore and identify new use cases for AI. By doing so, we can demonstrate to our management how we can leverage AI to scale learning content development effectively.
In the short term, we may witness a shift in the types of opportunities available to us. However, in the long run, our willingness to embrace AI and transform our skill sets will lead to a broader spectrum of possibilities. The future of Learning and Development is bright for those who choose to be at the forefront of this change. Let's not just witness the revolution; let's lead it.