AI Tools Accelerate More Timely and Relevant Training Delivery

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As an advanced technology company, we prioritize keeping pace with emerging tools and innovations.

As an advanced technology company, we prioritize keeping pace with emerging tools and innovations.

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That standard and expectation applies across every department, including talent development, where our responsibility is to continuously upskill employees to meet the demands of both mission-focused customers and the rapidly evolving technology landscape. To do so, the TD function recognized that it had to embrace the spirit of innovation to stay relevant and at the forefront of change.

That standard and expectation applies across every department, including talent development, where our responsibility is to continuously upskill employees to meet the demands of both mission-focused customers and the rapidly evolving technology landscape. To do so, the TD function recognized that it had to embrace the spirit of innovation to stay relevant and at the forefront of change.

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As the department entered the new fiscal year, the director of TD formed the content innovation team, a dedicated group responsible for exploring how cutting-edge technologies can transform learning within the company. Our mission was to investigate key questions such as:

As the department entered the new fiscal year, the director of TD formed the content innovation team, a dedicated group responsible for exploring how cutting-edge technologies can transform learning within the company. Our mission was to investigate key questions such as:

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  What trends are shaping the TD industry?

  What trends are shaping the TD industry?

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  Which tools are learning practitioners adopting?

  Which tools are learning practitioners adopting?

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  How are users applying those tools in real-world learning environments?

  How are users applying those tools in real-world learning environments?

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  What solutions can we implement to address our company’s training needs?

  What solutions can we implement to address our company’s training needs?

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  How can artificial-intelligence tools accelerate training delivery and improve efficiency?

  How can artificial-intelligence tools accelerate training delivery and improve efficiency?

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With only five members, our newly formed team embraced the opportunity with energy, enthusiasm, and determination. We saw it not simply as a task, but as a chance to reimagine how TD could drive innovation across the company. Our response was simple: Thank you for this exciting opportunity—and challenge accepted.

With only five members, our newly formed team embraced the opportunity with energy, enthusiasm, and determination. We saw it not simply as a task, but as a chance to reimagine how TD could drive innovation across the company. Our response was simple: Thank you for this exciting opportunity—and challenge accepted.

Use case: Bringing training development back in-house

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Traditionally, the TD team collaborated and partnered with both internal partners and external vendors to develop training solutions. Some partnerships resulted in end-to-end course creation, while others focused on producing specific learning assets such as videos, images, or audio. While effective, that approach often required significant coordination, higher costs, and lengthy timelines.

Traditionally, the TD team collaborated and partnered with both internal partners and external vendors to develop training solutions. Some partnerships resulted in end-to-end course creation, while others focused on producing specific learning assets such as videos, images, or audio. While effective, that approach often required significant coordination, higher costs, and lengthy timelines.

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Recognizing the growing potential of AI-enabled tools, we began exploring ways to shift much of our development work back in-house. The move promised greater control, reduced turnaround times, cost savings, and—most importantly—solutions that more closely align with learners’ needs. After all, who better understands those needs than internal colleagues who are directly engaged with them?

Recognizing the growing potential of AI-enabled tools, we began exploring ways to shift much of our development work back in-house. The move promised greater control, reduced turnaround times, cost savings, and—most importantly—solutions that more closely align with learners’ needs. After all, who better understands those needs than internal colleagues who are directly engaged with them?

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Following months of research and experimentation, we curated a suite of tools (all with AI features) to form a development toolbox. Among them was a platform that enables nonvideo developers to create professional, avatar-based videos with speed and precision.

Following months of research and experimentation, we curated a suite of tools (all with AI features) to form a development toolbox. Among them was a platform that enables nonvideo developers to create professional, avatar-based videos with speed and precision.

Results

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To appreciate the impact of the AI tools, it’s worth reflecting on our previous model. Until earlier this year, I served as program manager for the company’s mandated training portfolio, which covers state-required training, annual training courses, and federal compliance courses such as information security. With more than 35,000 employees to train and 12 to 15 courses to create or update annually, the TD team historically partnered with vendors. While it was effective, the vendor model often meant four to six months of production time for each course, as well as significant costs.

To appreciate the impact of the AI tools, it’s worth reflecting on our previous model. Until earlier this year, I served as program manager for the company’s mandated training portfolio, which covers state-required training, annual training courses, and federal compliance courses such as information security. With more than 35,000 employees to train and 12 to 15 courses to create or update annually, the TD team historically partnered with vendors. While it was effective, the vendor model often meant four to six months of production time for each course, as well as significant costs.

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The new AI-powered model is both faster and more cost-effective. Leveraging a video-development platform, the content innovation team produced more than 60 microvideos averaging one to three minutes each. In the span of three months, we created videos for approximately 15 different training initiatives—including topics such as leadership development and business processes—all without the typical delays of audio and video editing, talent scheduling, or re-records.

The new AI-powered model is both faster and more cost-effective. Leveraging a video-development platform, the content innovation team produced more than 60 microvideos averaging one to three minutes each. In the span of three months, we created videos for approximately 15 different training initiatives—including topics such as leadership development and business processes—all without the typical delays of audio and video editing, talent scheduling, or re-records.

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To accelerate development, TD team members can upload source material or simply enter a prompt into the AI video assistant. Within minutes, a polished, AI-generated video is ready to use. TD can deploy the videos as-is or customize them with different avatars, layouts, templates, images, video clips, and music.

To accelerate development, TD team members can upload source material or simply enter a prompt into the AI video assistant. Within minutes, a polished, AI-generated video is ready to use. TD can deploy the videos as-is or customize them with different avatars, layouts, templates, images, video clips, and music.

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Despite the rapid turnaround, the output aligns with the quality standards the TD team upholds. And with the cost of a single vendor-produced video exceeding that of an annual software license, our investment has already proven its value.

Despite the rapid turnaround, the output aligns with the quality standards the TD team upholds. And with the cost of a single vendor-produced video exceeding that of an annual software license, our investment has already proven its value.

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The results: reduced production timelines, scalable output, unprecedented agility, and cost savings.

The results: reduced production timelines, scalable output, unprecedented agility, and cost savings.

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The integration of AI tools into our training development process has fundamentally reshaped how we design and deliver learning. By reducing reliance on vendors and empowering internal teams, we’ve gained agility and scalability while keeping pace with technological change. Most importantly, we are delivering training that is timely, relevant, and effective for our learners—on our schedule, not a vendor’s.

The integration of AI tools into our training development process has fundamentally reshaped how we design and deliver learning. By reducing reliance on vendors and empowering internal teams, we’ve gained agility and scalability while keeping pace with technological change. Most importantly, we are delivering training that is timely, relevant, and effective for our learners—on our schedule, not a vendor’s.

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Read more from Talent Development Leader.

Read more from Talent Development Leader.