Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the field of learning and development (L&D). Over the last year, several new tools have emerged that revolutionize the way we think about and create learner experiences. Our team at GP Strategies spends a significant amount of time exploring, testing, and talking about AI tools in learning and development. Although we are just beginning to learn what is possible, generative AI (GenAI) is already providing new and innovative ways to write content, create video, generate voice-over, formulate test questions, and assist in language translation. Here is a snapshot of five great tools and use cases perfect for the learning and development space.
AI Tool for Text Generation
It is amazing to see how extensively GenAI tools are now being leveraged to find faster, more creative, and more effective ways to generate content.
In September of 2023, Microsoft launched Copilot, a GenAI companion that can be accessed in Bing, Edge, and Windows. Microsoft Copilot is built upon the latest large language models (LLMs) GPT-4 and DALL-E 3 and provides huge content-generation power right at your fingertips. You can use Copilot to ask complex questions, brainstorm ideas, write first drafts, generate images, obtain summarized information, and receive feedback on your writing. You can even control the tone and length of the copy it generates using several pre-set options.
Copilot is different from ChatGPT in that it is considered a hybrid. Whereas ChatGPT is an LLM, Copilot has an LLM, a search engine, and image-generation capabilities. A few differences between Copilot and ChatGPT include the fact that Copilot does not save prior conversations. Also, you can choose between a creative, balanced, or more precise conversation style (with a simple click of a button), and you can see the notification that your personal and company data are protected.
In this example, I simply asked Copilot to help design an icebreaker activity for investment bankers, and I used the “More balanced” option for conversation style. Copilot generated the results in about 10 seconds and provided a complete, relevant, and reasonable activity to use with the target audience.
AI Tool for Video Generation
Think of how much more realistic, accurate, and powerful AI video generation has become in just the last year. Comparing the clunky, anatomically questionable, and more basic AI-generated videos from just a year ago to the realistic, smooth, and hard-to-discern-from-real-life videos you find on something like Sora—there is just no comparison.
Our team has been leveraging Colossyan for generating videos used in sales simulations. Colossyan allows you to choose an avatar and enter a script, then it creates a lifelike video using the characters and script you identified. It provides a catalog of predesigned templates and allows you to incorporate real-time quizzes, adaptive assessments, and other interactive features that makes the video more engaging.
Read 9 Best AI Video Generators for 2024 and Beyond by David Gillham for additional options for AI-generated videos.
AI Tool for Creating Voice-Over
AI is also proving to be an enormous asset in the field of voice-over narration. ElevenLabs is one of the more popular GenAI tools for voice generation, providing a full range of options perfect for the L&D space. The program easily converts text to speech using a library of premade digital voices from all over the world. This makes it perfect for creating learning scenarios, bringing audio scripts to life, and producing other L&D materials. You can also clone your own voice for future use or transform it to fit your needs.
Here is a clip from a podcast episode on AI that uses a combination of AI voices reading an AI-generated script to explain what AI is. We know it’s a little meta, but it is an intriguing and thought-provoking quick listen.
One of ElevenLabs’ best features from a learning perspective is its translation capabilities. The AI tool can translate and dub speech into one of 29 different languages and offers a perfect end-to-end automated process for translating and dubbing. It can translate existing audio, while maintaining the speaker’s voice and delivery. This feature is invaluable when you create learning content for an international audience, as it allows you to make lessons accessible to a wider audience in a matter of minutes without having to rely on multiple speakers or a long translation process.
AI Tool for Testing
AI can even simplify the process of testing learners by generating quizzes, tests, and other learning assessments in minutes. Quizgecko is a perfect AI tool for this. It relies on the same AI engine used in ChatGPT and allows you to create tests based on any text, web page, or video. Simply upload text from any PDF, Word, or Google document of up to 30,000 characters, or upload the URL for a web page or video, and Quizgecko generates tests based on the material. The program can create tests in a variety of question formats, including multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blank, and short answer. The program’s algorithms are trained to avoid overly complex grammar and produce tests that are challenging but still fair. Afterward, you can edit the tests by changing the order of the questions and removing, editing, or adding questions manually.
Once your test has been generated, Quizgecko makes it easy to import your quiz into an LMS or embed it on a website. There are also reporting and analytics tools that allow you track progress of your learners, identify areas of improvement, and view reports covering individual session results and score distributions. Quizgecko even allows you to add copyright-free, AI-generated imagery to your quizzes to make them more visually engaging.
AI Tool for Translation
Using GenAI for translation can masterfully streamline the amount of time and effort required to translate your learning materials into multiple languages. There are a large host of translation tools available using GenAI technology, but one of the most user-friendly options is Google Translate.
With an extremely simple user interface, Google Translate gives you the ability to input text, images, documents, or websites in one language (choose from over 100 languages), then with a simple click of a button, translate that content into another language.
Of course, you still have to apply a human perspective to the equation by checking and refining the results, but it is mind-boggling to think of the time you can save if you have learning materials that you must translate into multiple languages.
Here at GP, we have an AI Resource Center that we use to share news, trends, guidelines, use cases, and resources (you should really subscribe!) with our employees and customers. Just for fun, I plugged that website into Google Translate, selected English as the input language and Spanish as the output language and, in seconds, I was presented with the web page in Spanish. Again, I will have to check the content for context and accuracy, but something like this was unfathomable not that long ago.
Input
Output
See this article, Top 10 AI Translation Tools (murf.ai), for additional options for AI translation tools.
Continue Exploring AI Tools for Learning and Development
In short, what a difference a year can make, especially in the world of GenAI! To say that AI tools are revolutionizing learning and development is an understatement. These tools allow us to create content more efficiently and improve learner outcomes by making content accessible to a much wider audience. While GenAI offers many exciting possibilities, it is important to remember that AI technologies are just tools and work best when paired with a human.
This is just a snapshot of several AI tools we at GP Strategies have found useful. What tools are you exploring and using to find better, cheaper, and faster ways to generate content and enhance the learning experience?
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