Learning and Solutions

The tech world loves big bold statements. "AI can do it all, quickly" is the latest slogan echoing through conference rooms and LinkedIn feeds. But as someone with a doctorate in adult and workplace training, I've learned that the most important question isn't can we do something, but should we do something—and more importantly, how should we do it responsibly?

The Resistance That Led to Reflection

I wasn't an early adopter of AI, and it wasn't because I was afraid of technology only unsavvy. My hesitation came from a deeper place—I needed to reconcile the moral and ethical implications of artificial intelligence in workforce training development with my core values and professional obligations.

Morally, I believe we all have an obligation to do what is right and in the best interest of others. When it comes to training and development, this means putting the learner first, ensuring authentic human connection, and maintaining the integrity of the learning experience. Ethically, my background in adult and workplace training comes with a rigorous code of conduct centered on best practices that prioritize genuine human development over convenience or speed.

Finding the Middle Ground

After careful consideration and testing, I've found ways to integrate AI that align with my values while enhancing—not replacing—the human elements of training development. Here's how I've drawn my lines in the sand:

Where AI Adds Value

I've discovered three areas where AI genuinely supports my work without compromising its integrity:

> Content Editing: AI excels at catching inconsistencies, suggesting clearer phrasing, and helping refine existing content. It's like having a tireless proofreader who never gets fatigued by detail work.

> Brainstorming Organization: When ideas are flowing faster than I can structure them, AI helps organize thoughts into coherent frameworks. It's particularly useful for taking scattered concepts and suggesting logical sequences or categories.

> Exploring Resources: AI can quickly surface relevant research, case studies, and industry insights that inform my training development, saving time on initial research phases.

Where I Draw the Line

My work focuses on three core areas where human expertise cannot be substituted:

> Fundamental Development Strategies: Creating training programs requires understanding human psychology, adult learning principles, and organizational dynamics in ways that go far beyond pattern recognition.

> Employee Engagement and Fulfillment: Authentic engagement comes from understanding individual motivations, cultural contexts, and the nuanced ways people connect with their work. This requires human insight and empathy.

> Empowering Directors and Founders: Leadership development is deeply personal. It requires the ability to read between the lines, understand unspoken challenges, and provide guidance that resonates with each individual's unique context and aspirations.

The Personal Content Experiment

I tested AI for create a personal story included in my newsletter last month. The result was technically grammatic—it even sounded like me—but something felt off. It wasn't overly superficial or obviously artificial, yet after reviewing that email the following week, I realized that using AI to create personal content simply doesn't feel good.

This experience revealed an important truth: authenticity isn't just about sounding like yourself; it's about the genuine thought, reflection, and intention behind your words. When you outsource your personal communication to AI, you lose something essential—the human connection that makes your relationships meaningful.

Moving Forward with Intention

The conversation around AI in training and consulting doesn't have to be disconnected. You don't have to choose between wholesale adoption or complete rejection. Instead, you can make intentional choices about where AI serves your values and where it doesn't.

The key is maintaining clarity about what you’re optimizing for. If you're optimizing purely for speed and efficiency, AI might seem like the answer to everything. But if you're optimizing for genuine human development, meaningful engagement, and authentic professional relationships, then AI becomes a tool to be used selectively and thoughtfully.

As professionals in the training and development / learning and development space, you have a responsibility to your clients and your employees to maintain the human elements that make learning transformative. Technology should amplify your ability to serve others, not replace the core human elements that make your work valuable.

The future of AI in training isn't about replacement—it's about enhancement. It's about using these powerful tools to handle the tasks that don't require human insight, freeing you to focus more deeply on the work that does. When you draw these lines thoughtfully, you can embrace innovation while staying true to your professional values and moral obligations.

The question isn't whether AI will change your industry—it already has. The question is how you'll choose to integrate it in ways that honor both technological possibility and human potential.

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Artificial Intelligence Policy for Training & Consulting Services

Our Commitment

This policy outlines how our consulting practice integrates AI tools while maintaining our commitment to authentic human development and professional ethics.

Core Principles

> Human-Centered Approach: AI enhances but never replaces the human elements essential to effective training and development.

> Transparency: Clients are informed when AI tools are used in their projects.

> Professional Integrity: AI will not create content requiring human expertise, judgment, or personal insight.

Approved AI Uses

Content editing and proofreading
Organizing brainstormed concepts
Research assistance and resource compilation
Administrative tasks and formatting

Prohibited AI Uses

Strategy development and consulting recommendations
Personal coaching conversations
Direct client communications
Training content creation for specialized topics
Leadership development materials

Quality Standards

All AI-assisted work undergoes human review and verification. Content accuracy remains our responsibility. AI suggestions are treated as drafts requiring professional judgment.

Client Rights

Request work be completed without AI assistance
Full disclosure of AI usage upon request
Right to refuse AI involvement in projects
Client information protected—not input into AI systems without explicit consent

Commitment

This policy ensures our AI use aligns with professional standards while maintaining the human-centered approach that defines quality consulting services.

Policy reviewed annually and updated as technology evolves.