Will AI replace instructional designers?
Ask us, and the honest answer is: it's already changed how we work. Just not in the way people expect.
What AI does well:
Generates a rough first pass at a scenario so we're editing, not staring at a blank page
Produces quick variations once we've found a version that works
Drafts starting-point learner personas before we sharpen them
Suggests a first cut at learning objectives to react to and refine
Speeds up restructuring and reformatting once the underlying content is right
What it doesn't do:
Know whether a scenario will actually land with this audience, in this organisation, with this culture
Decide which learning objective is the one that matters, and which is filler
Notice when a "correct" answer is technically right but practically useless
Sense when an SME is uncomfortable with a direction, even if they haven't said so outright
Know when "good enough" isn't actually good enough for this particular group of learners
That second list is the job. It's judgement, not output, and it's exactly where a designer earns their place in the process.
At Learnopolis, AI has become part of how we get to a strong first draft faster. It hasn't changed who decides what "good" looks like for your learners. That's still us, every time.
Where have you drawn that line in your own work? Which parts do you still not hand over to AI?
Jen
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