1 Year Later: 5 lessons from AI in L&D

Today’s Thoughts ☠️

Hey there 👋,

Tis the season of the big tech AI app integration.

I love the autumn (fall for my American friends). Halloween and Christmas are prime times on my calendar. This end of year is special for another reason too.

It marks the introduction of the first wave of workforce specific Generative AI tools from:

• Open AI

• Microsoft

• Google

It’s about to get really interesting. I think some of these tools will be great for L&D teams and accelerated performance. I’ve spent nearly a year playing with Open AI’s offer in ChatGPT.

Today we’ll focus on 5 things you need to know to stay ahead.

Let’s get into it.

Get your tea 🍵 or beverage of choice ready. We've got lots to discuss!

In today’s chat 👇

• Lessons from experiments with ChatGPT

• 3 insights from The Top 100 Tools For Learning by Jane Hart

• The 5 pieces for successful reskilling projects

The Big Thought

5 Lessons From Experiments With ChatGPT

I’ve spent the last year trying to navigate the Matrix of generative AI.

About 8 months back, I decided to delve deeper into the poster boy of the Gen AI scene in ChatGPT from OpenAI.

These are the 5 lessons learnt so far in this journey.

1/ It’s Narrow AI

✍️ ChatGPT is a ‘Narrow AI’.

That basically means it focuses on one task/s only. It’s limited and needs supervised learning from you (the human).

🤖 Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is what you see in the movies like Terminator and Ex-Machina.

This is a self-aware form of technology. One who thinks and learns independently. It does not need human input.

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT will change the way we work and even search for information. They won’t be taking over our world anytime soon (at least I hope so).

2/ Never Prompt and Ghost

ChatGPT is not a mind reader.

I’m sorry to break that to you. Nor is it some kind of magic where it just ‘gets it’. If it helps, imagine CGPT like an intern.

They don’t know what they don’t know but you can help them unlock their capabilities with the right instructions. You wouldn’t talk to them once and then give up if they didn’t get it the first time, right?

The secret sauce is in building an ongoing dialogue between you and the tool.

3/ It Needs Clear Input

Better input = better output.

If you were tasked to complete a big project you had never done before and were only given one sentence of information, how would you feel? Lost? Exactly. Now you know how CGPT feels.

Prompts need 3 things to do well:

1️⃣ Specificity

2️⃣ Context

3️⃣ Constraints

4/ It Needs A Human Touch

60% = CGPT, 40% = Human.

ChatGPT is not a silver bullet. It’s not going to create high-quality content as good as a human. It doesn’t think critically and has no clue about real emotions.

But you do.

You must co-create not delegate. More on that in our fifth and final lesson.

5/ Review, Edit and Challenge

Never use any output from ChatGPT without:

1. Reviewing content

2. Editing for your audience and style

3. Identifying and challenging bias

4. Fact-checking research and data

Large language models like ChatGPT are only as good as the data they’re trained on. So, if that’s rubbish then you must be cautious.

Generative AI can and will hallucinate. It’s up to you (the human) to always review, edit and challenge outputs.

→ Want to learn more from my experiments? 

I’ve created a ChatGPT Crash Course Specifically for L&D and HR Pros. I focus on making this topic simple and giving you actionable use cases to leverage in your work.

Come join me with over 100 students to level up.

Deep Thought

The Top 100 Tools For Learning: 3️⃣ Key Takeaways

Here’s a breakdown of Jane Harts's annual Top 100 Tools For Learning Report. You can download your copy here. These are my personal takeaways.

1️⃣ Hello AI

You shouldn't be surprised by this.

2023 is the year AI hit the mainstream. ChatGPT has been the poster boy for this. It’s no surprise it has stormed into the top 5 of the 100 tools for learning.

I’d even throw some dubious predictions in here and say it will dethrone YouTube for the top spot next year.

It’s exciting to be here for the start of this journey.

We each have the responsibility to shape the future with this technology for the better. I’m really trying not to say ‘that’ spiderman quote!

The takeaway: Generative AI is here whether you like it or not. Ignore at your own peril. Educate yourself now to wield it as a performance tool.

See page: 4

2️⃣ Not a traditional LMS or LXP in sight

Imagine this headline “L&D pro doesn't use LMS/LXP for learning”.

The thing is it’s probably more a reality than we think. In this list, YouTube (the king of learning platforms, IMO) reigns unchallenged. You have to wait till entry 29 with LinkedIn Learning until you get to a traditional tool.

Seems we don’t drink our own Kool-Aid, and I like it!

This supports my own thesis that any tool can be considered a tool for learning. I know you vendors out there will hate me for saying that. The best tool is the one that accelerates your skills. Simple.

See pages: 1 - 29

3️⃣ Collaborate, connect and diversify

I’m a big advocate of the right tool for the right job.

There is no Swiss Army knife, sorry. This is why technology ecosystems are so popular in our world.

Best-of-breed setups (putting different tools together in one experience for optimal performance) work better than all-in-one solutions. Again, my opinion.

Scrolling down this list, I see 3 key themes for learning:

1. People want to use tech to collaborate

2. People want to use tech to amplify connection

3. You need to diversify your tools for learning to enable maximum performance

The takeaway: Use tech as an enabler to your life. Don’t become a victim of it.

Want to work together?

I help teams and organisations crack the L&D code to enable performance.

How do I do that, you say? I’m glad you asked:

1️⃣ Maximising your learning technology

Unlock the power of your digital learning technologies with tailored strategies to empower your people to build the right skills for performance.

2️⃣ Nurturing High-performing L&D Teams

Equip your L&D teams with the latest tools, tactics, and frameworks they need to thrive in the modern world.

LinkedIn

I post so much on LI, even I lose track of all the stuff. Here’s a quick roundup of drops to keep you and me in the loop:

1️⃣ The 3 things you need to know to succeed as an L&D pro

2️⃣ Why L&D teams can’t afford to get it wrong with generative AI

3️⃣ How to use ChatGPT without using ChatGPT

4️⃣ How to get real-time data on what you’re people want to learn for performance

5️⃣ How you can stay tech-savvy in a fast-moving industry

Smart Thoughts

Content that has caught my attention and might interest you too.

🤔  AI and the future of work: Crafting positive impact and overcoming adoption challenges

Kevin Alster and I teamed up once again to speak on another panel about building a positive impact with generative AI in L&D.

We share our perspectives from different sides of the coin with me sitting on the frontlines with organisations adopting new tools, and Kevin developing solutions for customers with Synthesia.

I’m biased, but I think you’ll get a lot from this one.

💡 Reskilling in the Age of AI

This is a huge collaborative piece from 5 thinkers at Harvard Business Review.

Generative AI is happening and it’s ripped up the rulebook, again! But what does this mean for the humble human like you and me trying to make our way in this world?

One word. Reskilling.

In order for organisations to survive and for us to stay employed. The authors shared 5 insights to stay ahead:

1. Reskilling is a strategic imperative

2. It’s the responsibility of every manager and leader

3. It is a change management initiative

4. Employees want to reskill - when it makes sense.

5. It takes a village to make this happen

Take a look and let me know what you think.

🔥  How to handle a bad boss

People suck sometimes, The worst offenders are those bad bosses.

Like with everything in life, we need context as to why this happens and how we can handle it. I’ve had a few in my time.

You might find this blueprint for handling a bad boss useful.

How I can help you👇

1/ My L&D toolkit stack with 20 zero-cost tools.

2/ Work smarter with AI in HR and L&D in my ChatGPT Crash Course.

3/ Work with me on your projects and L&D challenges.

Please share your thoughts with me on these pieces or anything I share on LinkedIn or hit 'reply'. Chat to you soon.