AI is changing how we work. In nearly every industry, new tools are reshaping how we complete tasks, communicate ideas, and produce content. And Learning Experience Design is in the middle of that shift.
For LXDs, deadlines are tight, learner expectations are growing, and the need to show measurable results keeps rising. The demand for high-quality digital learning has never been higher. As this pressure forces professionals to look for new methods that can keep pace with these demands, many are inevitably looking at generative AI tools.
One such use case involves the structural and initial build of courses. And common platforms like ChatGPT and Articulate 360 are already capable of helping with just that. Let’s focus on how these tools are changing the process behind turning a blank course into a useful first version.
Simpler Copywriting
Copywriting is a serious undertaking, perhaps even more so in LXD. Rather than writing to just inform, you’re writing to instruct, persuade, and often shape behavior. The tone has to be clear, and the language needs to match the learner’s context. This, of course, takes time.
Writing a course outline, scripting microlearning segments, or building out scenario-based dialogues can consume large portions of a project timeline. This can lead to delays. It can also leave less time for testing and refinement. Both ChatGPT and Articulate Rise’s AI suite can help tremendously in this regard.
Used correctly, both tools can take a basic course outline and turn it into usable drafts. With the right prompting, both can draft module summaries, offer variations on learning objectives, and create paragraphs of instructional material. This doesn’t mean the LXD disappears from the process. Instead, the manual starting point can be removed.
Writers still need to make edits. They still need to ensure that content is accurate and aligns with the learning goals. However, instead of starting from the dreaded blank page, they are starting from a structured draft.
Note: When working with ChatGPT, you MUST ensure that no proprietary content is included in your prompts and that you have clear permission from clients or learners when uploading any of their materials.
Streamlining Course Structure
Once initial content has been written, it needs to be shaped into a learning experience. This is where Articulate Rise’s AI features mostly come into play.
One of its most useful functions is the ability to upload course assets directly into the platform. When you upload a document or a series of slides, Rise can help organize the material into a functional outline. This shortens the time needed to create a course framework.
The platform doesn’t build everything on its own. It still requires human input. But by pulling in uploaded content and aligning it with learning blocks, Rise gives the designer a starting point that begins to lay out the project’s structure.
This is especially helpful when building rapid prototypes, where quickly getting subject matter expert (SME) feedback on the course’s layout and content is essential to a smooth project timeline.
Asset Creation
eLearning often goes beyond words and layout. Your project might also need visuals, voiceovers, animations, and interactions. In the past, each of these came with a separate workflow, which extended project timelines.
Today, AI tools can generate many of these assets with minimal setup. Voiceover tools like Articulate AI can take a finalized script and produce a natural voice track almost instantly, and tools like HeyGen allow for the creation of video-based AI avatars that can serve as characters, presenters, or instructors in your training.
These tools don’t operate in isolation. They work well together. ChatGPT might help you draft the script; Articulate AI could give you the narration; and a resource like HeyGen is able to produce the final touch-ups to elevate your training that final bit more. The entire process becomes faster to complete and easier to manage.
This matters when you’re facing tight deadlines or quick turnarounds. Being able to potentially revise content and deploy updates within the same day changes the rhythm of a project.
What This Means for LXDs
LXDs have always needed fluency with multiple tools, whether for editing videos, images, or interactions.
The introduction of AI is adding another layer to that role. Designers who understand how to use generative tools can build faster and scale better. They can also focus more time on strategy, creativity, and meeting learning objectives, which all require human expertise and judgment.
We must remember AI’s limitations. AI won’t interpret nuance in audience feedback. It might struggle to recognize when a question is too complex for a beginner-level learner. It could fail to frame a sensitive topic within a particular cultural setting. These are responsibilities that remain firmly with the human designer.
There are risks to be aware of. AI can produce content that sounds right but lacks depth. Without human oversight, it can repeat bias, overlook accessibility issues, or return language that fails to engage the intended audience.
The key is in how the tools are used. Prompting is a learned skill; editing is still essential; and knowing when to revise or reject AI output is critical. LXDs must continue to guide the final product using their expertise.
A blind acceptance of AI-generated content will eventually lead to shallow material that could reflect poorly on you as an LXD professional, but more importantly, won’t inspire your learners. Careful review and intentional design are non-negotiable. A thorough understanding of how to use these tools responsibly is the newest fluency that designers need in their respective toolkits. And LXDs who embrace that mindset have the potential to lead the field forward.
Takeaways
AI is no longer a future consideration. It is already shaping how learning is designed and developed. LXDs who know how to utilize AI for instructional design are able to increase efficiency and hopefully leave more room for truly out-of-the-box thinking and creativity. That’s why rather than seeing these tools as replacements of humans from the learning process, we should look at them as aides to support better learning outcomes.
If you’re interested in learning more about our values or how we could streamline your learning needs, please get in touch!