What dangers exist for L&D pros who don't spend time exploring AI tools?

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Today’s Thoughts ☠️

Hey there 👋,

What if you don't spend time exploring AI tools in L&D?

→ I wish more people asked this.

We often neglect to consider the risks associated with inaction.

Today, we’re going to explore the dangers that exist for L&D pros who don't spend time exploring AI tools.

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

(Much love to today’s newsletter sponsor - Sana 🙏)

In today’s chat👇

• 🤔 What dangers exist for L&D pros who don't spend time exploring AI tools?

• 📊 Report breakdown: Putting Skills First by The World Economic Forum

• There is no such thing as a 'learning technology'

Est reading time: 15 mins

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THE BIG THOUGHT
What dangers exist for L&D pros who don't spend time exploring AI tools?

I know. It’s a provocative headline.

An interesting question that was asked of me recently is about the dangers that exist for L&D professionals who don't spend time exploring AI tools.

This is a great question because we often neglect to consider the risks associated with inaction.

Understanding the role of AI extends beyond the realm of L&D, of course.

I'm going to address this from two perspectives:

1. A general one applicable to all humans

2. A more focused one for L&D professionals

You need to know how to collaborate with conversational AI

Firstly, we are at a significant risk of overlooking key skills in AI collaboration.

It’s all dubious speculation, of course. It’s not like I have a crystal ball or anything. Yet, if I had a gun to my head, I firmly believe these skills are going to be crucial for the next decade and beyond, considering the current trajectory of technology.

This applies to most industries, not just L&D.

For example, construction (as an example) might not seem directly affected by AI now, but who knows what the future holds.

Understanding and interacting with AI is becoming essential for everyone.

Currently, these interactions mainly occur through prompting, but this method will likely evolve, becoming more nuanced over time.

Unfortunately, for prompt engineers earning those crazy $300k salaries, I suggest you enjoy the ride while it lasts. I doubt it will be forever, but kudos to you for now.

You must develop deep skills in AI collaboration.

By AI, I mean understanding how to work with generative AI, not necessarily mastering machine learning. It's about grasping the basics of the technology we use, a baseline that should apply to any technology.

→ Being conversant in the language of generative AI applications is a smart move right now.

Most of you reading this are using large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Google Bard and Perplexity. This is what we classify as conversational AI.

Don't let AI dominate your life or become your only skill, but invest time in understanding it.

Consider the basic knowledge of tools like Excel and PowerPoint, which are commonly requested in internal L&D wish lists. These tools have been around for decades—PowerPoint is celebrating its 30th anniversary, I believe. Yet, there's a surprising lack of proficiency across the board, which is astonishing given their presence in the workflow.

The ‘Workforce and AI’ dilemma for L&D teams

Now, from the L&D perspective—for the nerds out there like me—the same principles apply.

However, there's an additional layer concerning the workforce you support.

There's a risk of workforces outpacing your L&D team in understanding and using AI. I've observed this in conversations with many of you about teams in your organisations adopting these tools and gaining more knowledge on using them in their workflows.

This can lead to teams creating learning experiences without L&D input, potentially missing the crucial organisational context that L&D pros bring.

I know I said at the beginning to not get worried about those being left behind messages. But you only have so much time, friend. I know that’s a very devil’s advocate statement to make.

This situation presents a challenge, especially if you're not well-versed in AI.

So, understanding the capabilities and potential risks of these tools, as mentioned, is essential.

Technology won't replace L&D roles. While tech evolves, changing roles, tasks, and interactions, it won't replace us. However, organisations driven by cost efficiency might think otherwise.

Final thoughts [TL;DR]

• Grasping the basics of AI, both as a human and an L&D professional, is crucial for staying employable and relevant in our digital world.
  
  

• What you need to do is establish a good level of digital intelligence, which I've coined as understanding technology as a skill in its own right. It's essential in today's world.
  
  

• Avoid putting your skills in jeopardy of becoming irrelevant. Aim for a balance, not becoming AI-first or overly reliant on AI, but harmonising your human skills with an understanding of artificial intelligence tools.

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DATA THOUGHT
Putting Skills First by The World Economic Forum: 3️⃣ Key Takeaways

Here’s a breakdown of the putting skills first report from WEF. You can download a copy here. These are my personal takeaways.

Here's the TL;DR:

The world's dealing with a serious skill mismatch.

Businesses are scratching their heads because they can't find folks with the right skills, slowing down growth and innovation. Meanwhile, a ton of people are working jobs that have nothing to do with what they studied.

Go figure.

The report is a rallying cry for a "skills-first" approach, ditching the old "where'd you go to school?" for a more relevant "what can you actually do?"

It's about giving everyone a fair shot, regardless of their background, and making sure businesses have the talent they need to thrive in the digital economy.

This report offers a ton of real case studies to support your work. Make sure to check these out in the 2nd half of the document.

1️⃣ Skill Gaps are slowing us down

Businesses are feeling the pinch.

60% say they can't grow or change because they can't find people with the right skills. Everyone’s obsessed with AI, but this is a big deal.

We need to figure out what skills are missing and get our people up to speed. Sounds simple, right? But it's a big task that needs a smart plan.

You can’t do that alone.

For these trendy ‘skills-first’ approaches to work, they need serious leadership buy-in. Co-collaboration is the way forward.

2️⃣ Degrees aren't everything

Here’s something we’re seeing more of, and I’m all for it.

A lot of folks are working in jobs that don’t even relate to their degrees.

It makes you think, doesn’t it? We need to shift our focus from where someone studied to what they can do. This means looking at skills and abilities first.

I feel like this should have always been obvious, yet, here we are.

3️⃣ The Future is Digital

There's no escaping it.

We live in a digital world and we’re becoming integrating digital beings.

As L&D pros, it's our job to make sure our teams are ready to continuously navigate this world. This means teaching skills they'll need to not just survive but thrive in the future. That includes generative AI.

SMART THOUGHTS

Content that will make you smarter.

🤔  What are the practical opportunities AI tools present for L&D?

From enhancing critical thinking to improving research. You have many options.

Learn how to leverage AI tools to create meaningful and relevant enhancements in your work. It's time to focus on quality, not just quantity.

I elaborate on all this here.

💡 There is no such thing as a 'learning technology'

Any tool can be used for learning.

In my talk at LT a few years back, I shared the data on why employees chose tools other than those classified as 'learning technologies'.

We would do better enhancing skills with tech use in the workflow vs pushing them to your LMS/LXP.

🔥  How AI tools are closing the skills gap at speed for novice employees

In this month’s Cult of Thoughts edition (premium membership for the uninitiated), we explored the real data with Conversational AI’s impact on performance.

There’s too much talk and ‘theories’ around online.

So, I decided to delve into 5 reports on this topic to distill what you need to know and how to weave this into your L&D work.

→ Get all that here.

🥋 THE DOJO
Go From Clueless to Confident With AI in L&D

Let’s face it. The HR and L&D industry is slow to adapt and adopt the latest tech.

We struggle to connect with our audience because we fail to stay ahead.

We’re always last to the party, and that sucks. Sometimes we’re not even invited to the party!

You might feel like this right now with generative AI.

It’s here, there and everywhere. It seems like if you’re not on team AI, you’re getting left behind. I don’t know about you.

But I don’t like that feeling.

💥 Learn how to leverage the power of AI for L&D with my 2-hour Crash Course.

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