Is AI The Future Of Learning And Development Or Just A Buzzword?

Even if you are not changing your job, the job you are doing is changing, on this note one can easily say Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries and Learning & Development (L&D) is no exception. But while AI promises personalised, efficient learning experiences, the question remains: Is AI truly revolutionizing L&D, or is it just another buzzword in the corporate toolkit? This was the central theme explored in a panel discussion titled ‘AI-Powered Personalisation: From Digital Dreams to Learning Realities.’

AI's Role In Shaping The Future Of Learning
The panelists kicked off by discussing AI's potential to reshape L&D. Piyush Raghuvanshi, Head of Human Resources at APNA stated that AI is no longer just a futuristic concept—it's already making waves in everyday L&D practices. “AI can help streamline the learning experience by creating personalised pathways for employees,” he said. By analysing individual learning patterns and behaviours, AI can recommend courses, content and even mentors, making L&D programs more targeted and effective. “It’s not about automating learning, but about optimising it to be more relevant to each learner’s needs,” Raghuvanshi explained.

However, Rocky Sasmal Chief of Staff and Senior Leader for Talent and HR Programs at Lowe’s India, raised an important point about AI's limitations in the current landscape. While AI is capable of handling administrative tasks like course recommendations and content delivery, he questioned whether it could truly match the human touch required in more nuanced aspects of learning, such as leadership development. “AI can certainly make learning more efficient, but it lacks the ability to understand context in the same way a human mentor or leader can,” Sasmal cautioned.

AI As A Learning Enabler
For Fouzia Kumar, Global Head of Talent Management at HSBC, the key to unlocking AI’s potential in L&D lies in its ability to foster a culture of continuous learning and psychological safety. “AI has the power to create personalised learning experiences that can cater to an individual’s unique learning style,” she said. “But more importantly, it can reduce the stigma around failure by providing feedback in real time, encouraging employees to learn from their mistakes without fear of judgment.”

She illustrated this by sharing how HSBC uses AI to personalise training for its employees, helping them address skill gaps in a more targeted way. “AI helps us assess what skills an individual is lacking and tailors development programs to address those gaps. This approach is much more effective than a one-size-fits-all training session,” Kumar noted. In her view, AI doesn't just make employees more efficient; it equips them with the tools to be lifelong learners in an ever-evolving workplace.

Feeding AI To Improve Learning
The discussion also touched on the importance of data in the AI-powered learning ecosystem. Sasmal pointed out that for AI to truly deliver on its promise, organisations need to collect and structure data effectively. “AI’s potential in L&D is directly tied to the quality of data it’s given,” he explained. “If we feed AI fragmented or poor-quality data, we risk providing employees with irrelevant or incorrect learning paths.”

Raghuvanshi echoed this sentiment, stressing that AI’s real power lies in its ability to analyse and process vast amounts of employee data, from performance reviews to career aspirations, to recommend tailored learning journeys. “The more data we feed into these systems, the more accurate and effective AI’s recommendations become,” he said.

However, Kumar pointed out a challenge: while data is critical, many organisations still struggle to integrate their systems, leading to siloed information that AI can’t fully leverage. “We need to build better infrastructure to capture and connect data points across various platforms,” she argued. “Only then can AI truly personalise the learning experience at scale.”

AI As A Tool, Not A Replacement
Despite the optimism surrounding AI, the panelists all agreed that AI should never replace the human element in L&D. For Raghuvanshi, AI's role is to act as an enabler, helping L&D professionals focus on more strategic and creative tasks. “AI can handle the heavy lifting of administrative work, freeing up L&D professionals to design more meaningful and impactful learning experiences,” he said.

Sasmal reinforced this point by saying that AI should not be seen as a replacement for human interaction but rather as a tool to enhance it. “The future of L&D is about blending the efficiency of AI with the empathy and insight of human coaches and mentors,” he said.

AI In The Next Five Years
Looking ahead, the panelists were optimistic about the potential of AI in L&D, but they also recognised the challenges that still lie ahead. Sasmal spoke about the concept of agentic AI, where AI would not just recommend learning but actively create training programs and even guide learners through them in real-time. “In the next five years, I envision a world where AI becomes an integral part of every employee’s learning journey,” he predicted.
For Kumar, the key to success will be the ability to integrate AI seamlessly into the flow of work. “AI must become a part of everyday activities, nudging employees to learn new skills as they go about their tasks,” she said. “It should be about learning in the flow of work, not just a separate training session.”

In the end, the panel agreed that AI has the potential to make L&D more personalised, efficient and effective. However, as Rao summed up, “AI is not a magic bullet. It’s a tool that, when used correctly, can unlock new levels of learning and development.” The key, however, lies in using AI to complement, not replace, the human touch in learning.

As the L&D industry continues to evolve, AI will undoubtedly play an increasingly significant role. But to truly unlock its potential, organisations will need to ensure they have the right data, systems and people in place to guide this transformation. The future of L&D isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about smarter, more personalised learning experiences that drive real business outcomes.