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The Real State of AI in Learning & Development: What L&D Leaders Are Actually Saying
2 minute read
AI is everywhere in learning right now, but how it’s actually being used (and how people feel about it) tells a more grounded story.
During our recent webinar, The Future is Smart: How AI Will Power the Wisetail Platform, we asked learning leaders to share how they’re using AI today, where they see the most opportunity, and what’s holding them back.
Their answers paint a clear picture: AI is already saving time. But trust, accuracy, and practicality still matter more than hype.
1. The Promise: AI is already saving teams real time and effort
When asked how AI fits into their work today, 80% of learning professionals said it’s saving them real time and effort.
That’s the headline, but the real story is underneath it. Learning and operations teams aren’t chasing novelty; they’re chasing breathing room. AI is helping them reclaim hours once spent formatting, duplicating, and manually managing content.
The takeaway: AI is proving its value in the small, everyday wins that make work feel lighter, not in sweeping transformations.
“The teams using AI effectively aren’t looking for it to replace their work,” said Evan Melick, VP of Product at Wisetail. “They’re using it to get back to the work that actually matters.”
2. The Pause: Accuracy and trust still define adoption
Even with time savings, 47% of respondents said accuracy and quality are their biggest concerns when it comes to AI.
That number matters because in learning, precision isn’t optional. Outdated or incorrect content doesn’t just frustrate learners; it creates risk.
Leaders want tools they can trust, not tools that move faster than they can verify. And that’s the foundation of Wisetail’s approach: AI that’s embedded in your platform, grounded in your own content, and designed to amplify human expertise, not replace it.
“The best AI isn’t the flashiest,” Evan added. “It’s the kind you barely notice; the kind that quietly makes your systems smarter without adding complexity.”
3. The Opportunity: Content freshness is where AI can make the biggest impact
When asked where embedded AI could deliver the most value, 44% of learning leaders pointed to faster content creation and updates.
That’s not about automation for automation’s sake. It’s about keeping pace with how quickly training, policies, and operations evolve.
Learning teams are tired of wrestling with outdated materials, inconsistent versions, and the “blank page” problem that slows everything down.
AI won’t change the why behind training, but it can absolutely change the how fast and how confidently teams deliver it.
So where does this leave us?
The current state of AI in learning isn’t about chasing trends or replacing human judgment.
It’s about freeing small teams to act big: to move faster, simplify the manual, and focus on strategy instead of upkeep.
The most successful learning leaders will be the ones who embrace AI as a practical partner:
- Helpful, not hype-driven
- Accurate, not automated for its own sake
- Human-centered, not human-replacing
At Wisetail, that’s the path we’re on. We’re building AI that earns trust, saves time, and helps learning teams stay one step ahead of what their people need next.
Missed the webinar? Watch The Future is Smart: How AI Will Power the Wisetail Platform on demand to see how AI in the Wisetail Employee Enablement Platform is built for trust and designed for impact.
