When AI Writes the Course, What's Left for You?
I’ve always had a soft spot for audio-visual tech.
From the moment I was trusted to set up the film strip projector in elementary school, I was hooked. There was something magical about connecting all the right pieces—power cables, audio lines, image sources—to make everything sync in time and purpose. Fast forward a few decades, and you’ll still find me behind a camera, a video switcher, or a soundboard on Sunday mornings, volunteering with the church production team.
What drew me to A/V then is the same thing that fascinates me now: integration.
You’ve got dozens of inputs—each with quirks and protocols—feeding into a system that has to produce something coherent. There’s the microphone from the lead vocalist, the keyboard’s output, the preacher’s headset, and the ambient microphones for the choir. Each input needs to be monitored, balanced, and mixed. And then those outputs? They go everywhere. The sanctuary speakers. The livestream broadcast. The in-ear monitors. Each destination demands something slightly different.
And it’s not just A/V.
As a software developer, I’ve juggled the same kind of complexity: APIs, databases, user interfaces—different systems needing to be integrated, aligned, and deployed. As a CEO, it’s the same story. People, policies, projects. Bringing them together in a way that doesn’t just “function,” but works—resonates, even.
That’s where the L&D professional shines.
AI does a lot of this heavy lifting. It processes inputs faster than we can. It can analyze data, generate content, personalize learning experiences at scale. But there’s one thing AI can’t do, and that’s listen to the music.
It can’t feel the moment when the drums are a little too loud, or the harmony hits just right and gives you chills. It can simulate emotion, but it can’t be moved. It can’t be changed by what it creates.
And that is the critical difference.
In the age of AI, L&D professionals won’t disappear. They’ll evolve into learning integrators—people who take the raw power of AI and shape it into something that resonates. They’ll become quality controllers of experience. Empaths-in-chief. Professionals who can step into the learner’s shoes and evaluate not just whether the learning is delivered, but whether it lands.
Because at the end of the day, learning isn’t just about facts. It’s about impact. Transformation. Meaning.
No matter how sophisticated the algorithm, AI doesn’t learn like people do. It doesn’t have a past that colors how it perceives the present. It doesn’t struggle, triumph, get bored, or be inspired. It doesn’t wrestle with doubt or break into a smile when something finally clicks.
L&D professionals will survive—and thrive—because we are the ones who listen to the mix. We’re the ones who hear when the message doesn’t land, when the tone is off, when the learner needs something just a little different. We’ll be the ones adjusting the faders so the message hits the right frequency for every audience.
In a world of inputs and outputs, we’re the soul in the signal chain.
About the Author
Randy is a seasoned executive leader currently serving as the President and CEO of IACET, a non-profit accrediting body in the continuing education and training sector. With a focus on strategic vision and operational excellence, he effectively leads the organization to achieve its mission and goals.
With over two decades of experience in various leadership roles, Randy has a proven track record of driving organizational success. His expertise lies in aligning technological solutions with strategic objectives, ensuring operational efficiency and sustainable growth.