Beyond the AI Hype in L&D: Why Connection Over Content Matters More Than Ever
Artificial intelligence is everywhere in learning and development right now. New tools, new features, new promises — often framed as faster, cheaper, and more “efficient” ways to build training. But in the middle of all that noise, an important question gets lost: Are we actually designing better learning experiences…or just producing more content?
In this informal, facilitated conversation, Tim Slade will lead an open discussion about what’s happening beneath the surface of the AI boom in L&D, why “more content” isn’t the same as better learning, and how a renewed focus on connection, judgment, and real-world practice can help us design more meaningful, effective training experiences. This isn’t a pro-AI or anti-AI session. It’s an exploration of the messy middle — where most of the real work, nuance, and truth actually lives.
We’ll talk openly about where AI can genuinely support L&D work, where it starts to create new problems, and what happens when speed and scale become more important than thinking and intentionality. We’ll also unpack the quieter concerns many practitioners are feeling around creativity, critical thinking, and the ethical implications of outsourcing too much of our work — and our judgment — to machines.
The Discussion
In this session, we will discuss:
Where AI adds real value in L&D vs. where it introduces risk
How over-automating design decisions can erode learning quality
What “connection over content” looks like in day-to-day practice
How to stay relevant and grounded as an L&D professional in an AI-saturated landscape
Members: FREE
Meeting Agenda
April 23, 2026 | 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm CST - Speaker Presentation + Q&A
Invite your friends by sharing on social media.
Meet your Speaker:
Tim Slade, Creator of The eLearning Designer's Academy
With nearly two decades of experience in the instructional design and eLearning industry, Tim Slade has worked across almost every corner of the field—large corporate organizations, state government, custom design agencies, tech companies, and his own freelance instructional design business. He has been the practitioner doing the work, the hiring manager reviewing portfolios, and the leader of a global instructional design team at a tech company. Those experiences give him a front-row view of what it really takes to break into the industry and build a successful, sustainable career.
Over the years, Tim has helped thousands of new and aspiring instructional designers build the skills, clarity, and confidence they need to take their next step. Everything inside The eLearning Designer’s Academy is grounded in what he’s learned along the way—what works, what doesn’t, and what truly matters—so learners can move forward with more direction, more momentum, and a lot less guesswork.
How This Session Supports Your Professional Development
Aligned with the ATD Capability Model, this session helps you build skills in three areas:
