AI won’t replace learning designers.
It’ll expose the bad ones.

We’ve all seen the hype, automation, generative AI, fancy LLMs. Some promise they’ll replace humans in Learning & Development. We disagree. The truth is, AI won’t replace learning designers. It’ll expose the ones who’ve been winging it with templated, click-next dull elearning, and elevate the ones who understand story, strategy and human behaviour.

The rise of AI in L&D

AI in corporate learning isn’t coming, it’s already here. According to recent research, 79% of L&D teams are using AI in some form. That includes automating content creation, personalisation, and streamlining admin. Another study from Continu shows that 30% of L&D departments are using AI-powered tools now, and nearly half more plan to start within a year. This surge in adoption forces an important question: as AI takes on repetitive, templated work, what will distinguish great learning design from mind-numbingly boring design?

Here’s what the “bad ones” usually look like:

– A linear “click-next climb” through slides with no emotional connection or narrative.
– Compliance or technical training dressed up with glossier visuals but still fundamentally the same dull walkthrough.
– No measurement beyond “course completed.” No behaviour change, no feedback, no reflection.

These approaches will be revealed by AI tools, not because they expose them intentionally, but because when you try to scale something shallow, the cracks show.

What Great Design Looks Like

To stay relevant, designers need to lean into the stuff AI can’t do well:

–  Storytelling & emotional resonance: Studies show that narrative learning significantly improves retention and recall compared to dry content. For example, an executive development program showed that learners retained stories far better than abstract issues, months after the learning.
–  Behavioural metrics over completion metrics: Observation, feedback, sentiment measurement, and clear definitions of what “good” looks like in communication, leadership etc.
–  Human-in-the-loop: Even with content generation tools, subject matter experts, designers, or facilitators must validate and shape the output.
–  Adaptability & context: Learning that reflects real situations, gives learner control, allows experimentation, and isn’t afraid to be messy or imperfect.

The future of L&D isn’t about robots replacing people, it’s about tools enhancing what humans do best. When AI handles the repetitive, tedious, or data-heavy work, human designers get to focus on meaning, connection, empathy, strategy. That’s when learning stops being a checkbox and starts being something people look forward to.

Doing things differently

We lean into design from the ground up. Every project begins with questions – Who are we learning with? What matters to them? What can we measure that shows real change? We’ve built learning experiences with strong story arcs, emotional hooks, and behaviourally anchored objectives. We pair data and feedback loops with design thinking so our work evolves, not stagnates.

We see AI as a teammate, not a replacement. The designers who stick to shallow templates will get exposed. But the ones who bring heart, imagination, and rigorous design will thrive. If you’re designing learning and wonder if AI is a threat – don’t panic. It’s a challenge, yes. But more importantly, it’s an amplifier for quality and creativity. AI won’t replace learning designers, but it will expose those who never bothered learning what design really means.