As a learning and development professional, you were promised a revolution. AI was supposed to be the ultimate assistant, a tool that could draft course outlines, generate scenarios, and write quiz questions at lightning speed. And in a way, it delivers. But as you look at the clean, efficient text it produces, you might feel a familiar sense of… disappointment. The content is correct, but it feels hollow. The efficiency is there, but the joy of creation—the very thing that drew you to this field—feels like it’s been left behind.
If you’re wondering how to get the power of AI without losing the heart of your work, you’re not alone.
The “Vending Machine” Problem
So, what does this ‘vending machine’ approach look like in practice? It often starts with good intentions. We spend hours meticulously gathering our content—articles, transcripts, existing documentation—and preparing it all for the AI. We might even use software that invites us to simply upload a PDF, enter a topic, and select a desired length, like ordering a 15-minute course from a catalogue.
We press the button, and out comes… an outline. Or maybe even a full draft. On the surface, it seems to have worked. But the result feels familiar in its flatness. It’s generic. It’s hollow.
The problem isn’t the AI. The problem is the process. By treating the AI like a vending machine, we’ve skipped a crucial step: our own creative engagement. We miss out on those sparks of insight that fly only when you’re truly immersed in the content. We lose the opportunity to ask deeper questions, make novel connections, and let our own expertise and passion shape the material. We’ve optimized for a single, large output, and in doing so, we’ve filtered out the very human element that makes learning stick.
A New Paradigm: The AI Thought Partner
So, if we ditch the vending machine, what do we replace it with? We embrace a new model: the AI as a true thought partner.
Instead of issuing a single command, you start a conversation. The process is a simple, powerful back-and-forth. You begin with your ‘stream of consciousness’—your raw ideas, your goals for a learning activity, even the things you’re unsure about. Then, instead of delivering a finished product, the AI asks clarifying questions. It offers alternative angles. It helps you expand on a thought or prompts you with a new perspective that makes you go, ‘Ooh, what if we combined those two ideas?’
Suddenly, you’re not just a prompter; you’re a creator engaged in a dynamic exchange. This is where the magic happens. You’re building on each other’s contributions, creating something that is a true fusion of your expertise and the AI’s processing power. It becomes your partner in structuring your thinking, reminding you of details you might have missed. The process becomes deeper, more creative, and—importantly—more fun. You might even be surprised by a touch of humor or playfulness in the exchange that sparks even more inspiration.
The best metaphor for this partnership might change from day to day. Sometimes, you need that structured ‘thought partner’ to help you organize a complex project. Other times, you’re looking for a creative ‘jam session’ to brainstorm novel ideas. The goal is to see the AI not as a machine to command, but as a versatile collaborator you can adapt to your creative process while maintaining instructional design principles.
The Payoff: Joy, Quality, and Creativity
What’s the real difference in how this feels? It comes down to one word: inspiration. The ‘vending machine’ model is efficient but sterile; it leaves no room for the sparks of insight that give our work purpose. The collaborative process, however, is built for it. By engaging in a back-and-forth conversation, we are constantly creating small openings for inspiration to strike. This transforms the work. We’re no longer just assembling content; we’re on a journey of discovery, learning as we create. For many of us, that connection to inspiration is precisely what makes the work feel meaningful and joyful.
And that joy isn’t just a personal benefit—it translates directly into the quality of the work. When we’re inspired, we create more engaging and impactful content. I once designed a safety course for trucking supervisors, inspired by a TV show’s use of inner dialogue. This led to a storyline that was not only funny and relevant but also explored the safety topic with surprising depth. That’s the kind of quality a vending machine can’t replicate. It’s the quality that comes from a human creator making novel connections—a process the right AI partnership can now supercharge.
This collaborative approach is also a powerful antidote to creative blocks. We all get stuck. But instead of staring at a blank page, you can ask your AI partner for ideas. A fantastic use for this is brainstorming scenarios. Where you might think of one or two paths, the AI can offer a dozen alternatives in seconds. The creative magic happens when you don’t just pick one, but combine elements from several—your initial thought blended with the AI’s suggestions—to create a branching scenario that is far more nuanced and effective than what you would have developed alone. It’s a process that doesn’t just help you get unstuck; it elevates the creative potential of your work.
Putting it into Practice: A Sample Jam Session
To see how this works, let’s imagine an L&D writer trying to create a learning scenario.
The Writer’s Prompt:
“Okay, I’m developing a scenario for new managers on giving difficult feedback. The situation is an employee who keeps missing deadlines but doesn’t communicate about it, which affects the whole team. My goal isn’t to create a confrontational script. I want to model a coaching approach where the manager can open a dialogue, explore the reasons, and problem-solve with the employee, rather than just criticizing them. I’m a bit stuck on how the manager should open the conversation to set that collaborative tone.”
The AI Partner’s Response:
“That’s a great focus. Getting the opening right is key to framing it as coaching, not criticism. To help us find the right words, let’s think about the ideal outcome from an emotional perspective.
What is the single most important feeling you want the employee to walk away with after this conversation? For example, do you want them to feel supported, accountable, understood, or something else?”
Conclusion: Redefine the Creative Process With AI
Ultimately, shifting your approach with AI from a ‘vending machine’ to a ‘thought partner’ is about more than just boosting your productivity. It’s about reclaiming the very essence of what makes our work in learning and development so fulfilling.
It’s a choice to prioritize a process that makes room for inspiration, elevates the quality of your work, and restores the joy of creation. It ensures that you, with your unique expertise and passion, remain the heart of the creative process.
So, the next time you open that chat window, don’t just think of it as a tool to command. Think of it as a new collaborator. Start a conversation, ask a curious question, and invite it into a jam session. You might just discover that your best partner in designing truly human-centered learning is waiting for you there.
