April 24, 2025
Design & Development
AI is Changing eLearning—But Humans Still Matter More Than Ever.
Vanessa Dunn
President of Simple Movement
A keyboard with a robotic hand and a human hand
Image credit:

There’s no denying that AI is changing the landscape ofeLearning. Tools like ChatGPT can now generate course outlines, draft quizzes, andeven suggest accessibility edits. It’s impressive—and yes, it’s fast. Butassomeone who’s been designing learning for over a decade, I’ve seen firsthand whatAI can’t do.


AI can process information, but it doesn’t know what it feels like to be on thefrontlines, run a business, or move through the world with a disability. Itdoesn’t know how to build trust in communities that have been left out oftraditional learning spaces. It doesn’t grasp the nuance of trauma-informedpractice, accessibility, or inclusive design. It can't align withorganizational strategy and real-world needs in a human way nor create pedagogicallysound learning paths that truly change behaviour.

These are the places where humans are essential.

As AI becomes a tool in our toolkit, the real opportunity is this:

·     To shift from content production to strategicdesign.

·     To lead with empathy and equity. 

·     To create learning experiences that changebehaviour, not check a box.

·     To build learning from first-hand experiencesand consultation.

·     To understand human context, nuance, andaudience dynamics.

·     To facilitate social learning and coachingopportunities.


For me, that’s the future of eLearning. It’s not about resisting AI—it’s aboutusing it to free us up to do the work that only humans can do.


Curious to hear how others are navigating this shift. How is AI showing up inyour learning and development work?

Founders of Simple Movement, Matt Foran and Vanessa Dunn, sitting on a couch together posing for a photograph.

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