ATD Blog
Enablement, Curation, Governance
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AI takes talent development to a strategic level.
AI takes talent development to a strategic level.
Mon Feb 09 2026
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Artificial intelligence enables talent developers to become true business partners, per Debbie Richards. In Become a Strategic Learning Architect With AI , Richards writes, “In my time working on the front lines of enterprise technology, I’ve never seen a tool with more potential to elevate our profession. AI is not our replacement; it’s the partner we’ve been waiting for to finally get us out of the order-taker trap.”
Artificial intelligence enables talent developers to become true business partners, per Debbie Richards. In Become a Strategic Learning Architect With AI, Richards writes, “In my time working on the front lines of enterprise technology, I’ve never seen a tool with more potential to elevate our profession. AI is not our replacement; it’s the partner we’ve been waiting for to finally get us out of the order-taker trap.”
No Longer Just Content Creators
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AI tools allow TD practitioners to move beyond time-intensive and often routine tasks to more strategic ones. Rather than spending significant time creating training materials, TD practitioners can spend more time guiding learners to access the right content at the right time.
AI tools allow TD practitioners to move beyond time-intensive and often routine tasks to more strategic ones. Rather than spending significant time creating training materials, TD practitioners can spend more time guiding learners to access the right content at the right time.
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In the age of AI, the expertise of TD leaders is especially important in three key areas:
In the age of AI, the expertise of TD leaders is especially important in three key areas:
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Enablement. With AI, learners can pull the content and development materials they need. TD leaders become designers of the learning experience, for example facilitating an AI coach for a leader seeking to improve their communication skills.
Enablement. With AI, learners can pull the content and development materials they need. TD leaders become designers of the learning experience, for example facilitating an AI coach for a leader seeking to improve their communication skills.
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Curation. We all have a plethora of information at our fingertips. But what is relevant, timely, and truthful? Rather than creating all the required training materials, TD leaders now are curators of learning paths. For example, an L&D leader may select an article for a new manager to read, a series of reflections for them to complete, a LinkedIn learning module to listen to, and a role-play exercise to practice with an AI tool.
Curation. We all have a plethora of information at our fingertips. But what is relevant, timely, and truthful? Rather than creating all the required training materials, TD leaders now are curators of learning paths. For example, an L&D leader may select an article for a new manager to read, a series of reflections for them to complete, a LinkedIn learning module to listen to, and a role-play exercise to practice with an AI tool.
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Governance. “The final pillar, governance, ensures that our work is consistent, high quality, and strategically aligned with the organization’s needs,” advises Richards. “This is how we connect our initiatives directly to the business.” Serving in this capacity ensures the organization and employees have the tools to succeed.
Governance. “The final pillar, governance, ensures that our work is consistent, high quality, and strategically aligned with the organization’s needs,” advises Richards. “This is how we connect our initiatives directly to the business.” Serving in this capacity ensures the organization and employees have the tools to succeed.
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To sum up, AI tools help TD personalize learning at scale.
To sum up, AI tools help TD personalize learning at scale.
Words of Warning
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Given all of this, some practitioners will want to readily move forward. However, with capabilities often comes limitations—as well as words of warning.
Given all of this, some practitioners will want to readily move forward. However, with capabilities often comes limitations—as well as words of warning.
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AI tools can serve as a swift researcher or librarian, finding, summarizing, and organizing an immense amount of information. Individuals can also tap AI as a brainstorming partner or use the technology to automate rote tasks.
AI tools can serve as a swift researcher or librarian, finding, summarizing, and organizing an immense amount of information. Individuals can also tap AI as a brainstorming partner or use the technology to automate rote tasks.
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However, as we well know, AI tools come with biases and the tendency to hallucinate when they don’t have the answer. Thus, it is critical for a human to stay in the loop. While AI may come up with information about an industry an L&D consultant wants to explore, it is key for the consultant to verify the information. Or, an AI tool may come up with ideas during a brainstorming session, but are they pertinent to your audience?
However, as we well know, AI tools come with biases and the tendency to hallucinate when they don’t have the answer. Thus, it is critical for a human to stay in the loop. While AI may come up with information about an industry an L&D consultant wants to explore, it is key for the consultant to verify the information. Or, an AI tool may come up with ideas during a brainstorming session, but are they pertinent to your audience?
Upskilling the TD Team
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While skilling and reskilling employees is an integral part of talent development, we must not lose sight of keeping our own skills sharp and current, especially in the workplace, where technology is changing so rapidly.
While skilling and reskilling employees is an integral part of talent development, we must not lose sight of keeping our own skills sharp and current, especially in the workplace, where technology is changing so rapidly.
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Richards offers some ideas on how TD leaders can develop themselves and their teams.
Richards offers some ideas on how TD leaders can develop themselves and their teams.
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Cultivate a strategic mindset by reviewing your organization’s goals and identifying key skills gaps.
Cultivate a strategic mindset by reviewing your organization’s goals and identifying key skills gaps.
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Master learning enablement through mentoring or researching a learner-centered design approach.
Master learning enablement through mentoring or researching a learner-centered design approach.
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Embrace technology by signing up for a course or webinar on AI.
Embrace technology by signing up for a course or webinar on AI.
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Invest in your own career growth by joining a professional association or identifying a specific skill you’d like to acquire.
Invest in your own career growth by joining a professional association or identifying a specific skill you’d like to acquire.
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Build your credibility by writing a short blog or article.
Build your credibility by writing a short blog or article.
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AI is not going away. If you haven’t done so before, it’s time to take the first step for yourself, your learners, and your organization.
AI is not going away. If you haven’t done so before, it’s time to take the first step for yourself, your learners, and your organization.