The job used to be clear: Build courses, manage platforms, track completions. Maybe run a few leadership programs. That was L&D.

But that model isn’t holding up. In many organizations, it’s already being replaced.

AI at the Core, Not the Edges

Very recently, AI was still largely considered an “add-on” to at the learning programs. Now it is at the core of how leading companies build skills, distribute knowledge, and align learning with business priorities. Not because it’s trendy, but because it works better.

The 2025 Bersin Report lays this out in practical terms. Instructional designers are becoming learning architects. CLOs are stepping into transformation roles. Content isn’t the center of gravity anymore. Context is. Insights need to be easily accessible, personalized, and embedded in workflows.

This Shift Is Already Underway

These shifts aren’t theoretical. Teams at Databricks, Superside, and Moderna aren’t asking how to keep up. They’ve already changed how they work. AI helps them deliver knowledge faster, reduce duplication, and target learning where it matters.

The Systems Holding Teams Back

The implications are real. Old systems - LMSs full of static courses, bloated content libraries - are slowing teams down. So is the habit of measuring success by hours spent or assets created. Learning needs to move at the speed of the business, and most current tools can’t keep up.

Harder Questions, Better Direction

That doesn’t mean throwing everything out. But it does mean asking harder questions.

Is your content structured in a way AI can use? Are your systems delivering learning at the point of need, or just storing it? Can your team explain how learning drives business outcomes, or are you still focused on completion rates?

There’s no single blueprint for success here. But the direction is clear. L&D is moving from control to enablement. From production to performance. And from being a service function to becoming a strategic partner.

This isn’t a theoretical future. It’s the current state. And the gap between teams that have made the shift and those that haven’t is only getting wider.

Read the full report: It’s Time For an L&D Revolution