Where L&D creates value next: The shifts AI brings to instructional design
Everyone's talking about how AI will revolutionize learning. But what it's really changing is how training is made. Created in partnership with We Are Learning, Tim Slade explores in his eBook the key shifts that are happening in instructional design right now and where your team's value goes next.
If you’ve been on LinkedIn recently, you’ve probably seen a lot of talk about how AI is changing learning. People say agents are replacing entire instructional design teams and that you can create personalized courses with just a prompt.
But if you look beyond the demos, there’s a more important point: AI isn’t really changing how people learn. Instead, it’s changing how training is made.
This shift affects
- the cost of the work,
- the value of your skills, and
- what your organization expects from you.
The eBook will help you understand these changes before they affect you, so you can use them to make your team more valuable.
What's inside
Three shifts are reshaping instructional design:
- The economics of L&D are shifting. As production gets cheaper, its value drops too. We explain the workflow inversion, where the old 10/80/10 split is reversed, and reveal the 'experimentation dividend' that comes from affordable first drafts.
- AI is not changing how people learn, but it is changing the value of human input. The science of learning remains the same, but the places where people make the biggest difference have shifted.
- AI brings a new kind of capacity and capability to organizations. But it is a production resource that needs direction, oversight, and budgeting. Now, the excuse of 'we didn't have time to try that' is quickly fading away.
You will also find real case studies, such as 911-operator training where each mistake costs $3,000, and programs that help city staff practice tough conversations safely. Finally, we share 'Where to start Monday,' with five practical steps any L&D leader can take this quarter without needing a big transformation project.
Who it's for
- L&D leaders who are figuring out how to staff and budget their teams in the AI era.
- Instructional designers who are shifting from simply building what they are told to create to identifying what is truly worth building.
"The biggest misconception about AI is that you don't have to think or work anymore."
— Lars-Petter W. Kjos, Co-founder & CPO, We Are Learning
About We Are Learning
We Are Learning is the company behind We Are, the learning design tool for creating immersive, emotionally engaging training. Combining AI, interactive scenarios, and high-quality 3D animation, it helps learning designers create experiences people actually remember and put into practice. Built on 25+ years of pedagogical and EdTech expertise.
Tim Slade
Founder of The eLearning Designer’s Academy
Tim Slade is a speaker, author, and award-winning instructional designer who has spent nearly two decades helping organizations create more engaging learning experiences. Through his books, courses, and The eLearning Designer’s Academy—including his latest book, The Instructional Design Handbook—he shares practical insights that help learning professionals elevate their craft and stay ahead of industry trends.
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