ATD Blog
From Curiosity to Cohort: How Forum Members Navigated the Generative AI Wave Together
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Sometimes the most transformative ideas don’t start with a plan—they start with a question.
Sometimes the most transformative ideas don’t start with a plan—they start with a question.
Mon Feb 02 2026
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At the ATD Forum, that question arrived in early 2023 during a casual conversation with a member: “Are you paying attention to the ChatGPT app released last November?” The member pulled up a live demo, showed how prompts could spark practical workflows, and planted a seed. What followed wasn’t a meticulously designed initiative. It was organic momentum—ideas shared in emails and Zoom chats, links sent between peers, and a collective willingness to experiment.
At the ATD Forum, that question arrived in early 2023 during a casual conversation with a member: “Are you paying attention to the ChatGPT app released last November?” The member pulled up a live demo, showed how prompts could spark practical workflows, and planted a seed. What followed wasn’t a meticulously designed initiative. It was organic momentum—ideas shared in emails and Zoom chats, links sent between peers, and a collective willingness to experiment.
2023: The Spark of Serendipity
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The first months of engagement with AI were exploratory and informal. Learning to use prompting models became a new craft—sometimes exciting, sometimes daunting. Recognizing the moment, the Forum invited Elliott Masie to host a virtual discussion in February 2023 on how talent professionals could begin using generative AI without hype or fear. Elliott urged us to think small and practical: gather peers, try things, learn together, and compare notes. That nudge shaped how members approached the technology—as a shared practice, not a solo pursuit.
The first months of engagement with AI were exploratory and informal. Learning to use prompting models became a new craft—sometimes exciting, sometimes daunting. Recognizing the moment, the Forum invited Elliott Masie to host a virtual discussion in February 2023 on how talent professionals could begin using generative AI without hype or fear. Elliott urged us to think small and practical: gather peers, try things, learn together, and compare notes. That nudge shaped how members approached the technology—as a shared practice, not a solo pursuit.
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A summary of Elliott’s session was posted on the Forum’s internal site, giving all members access to the key takeaways, and a blog summarizing the roundtable was published on ATD. Conversations multiplied. One member shared how she uses Perplexity to synthesize research. Others circulated blogs and studies. None of this was formal yet—but it was meaningful. AI was the perfect topic for what the Forum has always been at its best: a place where smart practitioners make sense of change together, a place to connect, collaborate, and share in a private community of peers.
A summary of Elliott’s session was posted on the Forum’s internal site, giving all members access to the key takeaways, and a blog summarizing the roundtable was published on ATD. Conversations multiplied. One member shared how she uses Perplexity to synthesize research. Others circulated blogs and studies. None of this was formal yet—but it was meaningful. AI was the perfect topic for what the Forum has always been at its best: a place where smart practitioners make sense of change together, a place to connect, collaborate, and share in a private community of peers.
2024: From Conversations to a Concept
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In February 2024 , Elliott returned for a second roundtable, this time in dialogue with a Forum member to explore practical use cases in greater depth. Meanwhile, the energy around generative AI was palpable at ATD24 , where Ethan Mollick’s book Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI sparked member conversations among Forum members. The theme was clear: the field was shifting from “What is this?” to “How do we use this responsibly and effectively?”
In February 2024, Elliott returned for a second roundtable, this time in dialogue with a Forum member to explore practical use cases in greater depth. Meanwhile, the energy around generative AI was palpable at ATD24, where Ethan Mollick’s book Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI sparked member conversations among Forum members. The theme was clear: the field was shifting from “What is this?” to “How do we use this responsibly and effectively?”
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Inside the Forum, exchanges intensified. A few members shared prompts, models, pilot outcomes, and guardrails. It became obvious that the conversation deserved its own home. The idea surfaced to create a dedicated cohort —a member-led space to turn curiosity into repeatable practice. Members who had been consistently engaged volunteered to lead the cohort. The goal: build a place for pragmatic, peer-driven experimentation.
Inside the Forum, exchanges intensified. A few members shared prompts, models, pilot outcomes, and guardrails. It became obvious that the conversation deserved its own home. The idea surfaced to create a dedicated cohort—a member-led space to turn curiosity into repeatable practice. Members who had been consistently engaged volunteered to lead the cohort. The goal: build a place for pragmatic, peer-driven experimentation.
2025: The Cohort Era—Structure Without Rigidity
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In 2025 , the cohort launched with a three-person leadership team . We added structure—but kept it lightweight and useful. The cohort meets every other month for robust sharing sessions in which members present how they use various techniques and apps in real-world workflows. It’s hands-on and honest—what worked, what didn’t, and what to try next.
In 2025, the cohort launched with a three-person leadership team. We added structure—but kept it lightweight and useful. The cohort meets every other month for robust sharing sessions in which members present how they use various techniques and apps in real-world workflows. It’s hands-on and honest—what worked, what didn’t, and what to try next.
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Highlights of the Peer Use Cases on Generative AI Content
Highlights of the Peer Use Cases on Generative AI Content
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A new cohort focused on AI in the workplace could generate both excitement and caution. Recognizing that strongly held beliefs could affect engagement, we were blown away by how eager volunteers were to share innovative ways their companies are harnessing AI. These sessions sparked lively discussions, questions, and excitement as diverse industry professionals explored AI's transformative potential for the future of work in learning and development. Presenters could have continued showing content for hours beyond the 30-minute limit, and eager participants would likely have stayed to keep learning.
A new cohort focused on AI in the workplace could generate both excitement and caution. Recognizing that strongly held beliefs could affect engagement, we were blown away by how eager volunteers were to share innovative ways their companies are harnessing AI. These sessions sparked lively discussions, questions, and excitement as diverse industry professionals explored AI's transformative potential for the future of work in learning and development. Presenters could have continued showing content for hours beyond the 30-minute limit, and eager participants would likely have stayed to keep learning.
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A Forum member from a travel company guided us through the development of generative AI video creation, highlighting efficiency, detailed prompting to ensure the persona reflected the company, and impressive results achieved with advanced tools they had mastered.
A Forum member from a travel company guided us through the development of generative AI video creation, highlighting efficiency, detailed prompting to ensure the persona reflected the company, and impressive results achieved with advanced tools they had mastered.
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Two members of a supermarket chain shared their journey through the challenges of AI adoption and implementation as their organization developed its own internal AI tools. Their remarkable approach to data collection, use of RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation), development of detailed personas, and ongoing AI improvement demonstrated true excellence in navigating this era of change.
Two members of a supermarket chain shared their journey through the challenges of AI adoption and implementation as their organization developed its own internal AI tools. Their remarkable approach to data collection, use of RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation), development of detailed personas, and ongoing AI improvement demonstrated true excellence in navigating this era of change.
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A Forum member from a professional services firm shared how AI has revolutionized their operations and will shape their future workflows. As early adopters, they are driven by a vision to enhance the employee and customer experience through AI tools.
A Forum member from a professional services firm shared how AI has revolutionized their operations and will shape their future workflows. As early adopters, they are driven by a vision to enhance the employee and customer experience through AI tools.
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A construction company Forum member showcased how they harnessed AI to enhance application development. Skilled L&D professionals used Large Language Models (LLMs) to develop their own learning and safety-tracking tools. The live demonstration showed that building a software application can be as simple as explaining your needs to an AI system, with no programming experience required.
A construction company Forum member showcased how they harnessed AI to enhance application development. Skilled L&D professionals used Large Language Models (LLMs) to develop their own learning and safety-tracking tools. The live demonstration showed that building a software application can be as simple as explaining your needs to an AI system, with no programming experience required.
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Highlights From Thought Leaders
Highlights From Thought Leaders
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Roundtable programming for 2025 also broadened Forum members’ perspectives. Throughout the year, four thought leaders—Josh Cavalier, Michelle Lentz, Debbie Richards, and Karl Kapp—joined virtual discussions to share use cases, design patterns, and implications for L&D. Those sessions complemented the cohort’s practitioner focus with research notes, frameworks, and examples, strengthening the bridge between ideas and practice.
Roundtable programming for 2025 also broadened Forum members’ perspectives. Throughout the year, four thought leaders—Josh Cavalier, Michelle Lentz, Debbie Richards, and Karl Kapp—joined virtual discussions to share use cases, design patterns, and implications for L&D. Those sessions complemented the cohort’s practitioner focus with research notes, frameworks, and examples, strengthening the bridge between ideas and practice.
What We Learned About Our Learning (And Why It Matters)
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While everyone expanded their understanding and applications of AI, as a peer consortium, we also gained a clearer understanding of the value of the group experience.
While everyone expanded their understanding and applications of AI, as a peer consortium, we also gained a clearer understanding of the value of the group experience.
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Serendipity can be strategic—if you harness it. We didn’t set out to build an AI cohort. We listened to members, identified emerging needs, and built the minimum structure needed to build momentum. That made learning fast, relevant, and sustainable.
Serendipity can be strategic—if you harness it. We didn’t set out to build an AI cohort. We listened to members, identified emerging needs, and built the minimum structure needed to build momentum. That made learning fast, relevant, and sustainable.
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Small peer groups outperform big proclamations. Practicality beats perfection. A half-hour share‑and‑compare session around a specific workflow often delivers more value than a sweeping, theoretical talk. Members trust peers who are testing ideas within similar constraints.
Small peer groups outperform big proclamations. Practicality beats perfection. A half-hour share‑and‑compare session around a specific workflow often delivers more value than a sweeping, theoretical talk. Members trust peers who are testing ideas within similar constraints.
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A cohort becomes a learning engine. Meeting regularly, sharing artifacts, and revisiting decisions create continuity. Over time, that continuity builds institutional memory—patterns, templates, and guardrails you can reuse, rather than reinvent.
A cohort becomes a learning engine. Meeting regularly, sharing artifacts, and revisiting decisions create continuity. Over time, that continuity builds institutional memory—patterns, templates, and guardrails you can reuse, rather than reinvent.
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Thought leaders push the envelope. External voices broaden our perspective and help translate trends into actionable steps. We’re most effective when we blend outside insight with inside experience.
Thought leaders push the envelope. External voices broaden our perspective and help translate trends into actionable steps. We’re most effective when we blend outside insight with inside experience.
The Road Ahead
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The Forum’s peer-led cohort will continue to iterate on member content at bi-monthly sessions and expand resource sharing. Some exploration we expect includes:
The Forum’s peer-led cohort will continue to iterate on member content at bi-monthly sessions and expand resource sharing. Some exploration we expect includes:
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Emerging AI Tools (Specialized Models, Edge AI, Multi-Modal)
Emerging AI Tools (Specialized Models, Edge AI, Multi-Modal)
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AI Governance (Safety, Implementation, Ethics)
AI Governance (Safety, Implementation, Ethics)
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AI Learning Architects (Agents, Personalized Learning, Simulations)
AI Learning Architects (Agents, Personalized Learning, Simulations)
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AI Quality Control (Better Outputs, Evidence Bound Models, Reality-Anchored AI)
AI Quality Control (Better Outputs, Evidence Bound Models, Reality-Anchored AI)
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AI-Powered Learning Insights (AI Data Analytics, AI Skills Dashboards)
AI-Powered Learning Insights (AI Data Analytics, AI Skills Dashboards)
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None of this is about perfection. It’s about progress—with peers in a safe, supportive, and closed community. Curiosity can lead to capability in many ways. 2026 will be an exciting year for talent peers to connect, collaborate, and share around AI.
None of this is about perfection. It’s about progress—with peers in a safe, supportive, and closed community. Curiosity can lead to capability in many ways. 2026 will be an exciting year for talent peers to connect, collaborate, and share around AI.