AI Is Changing L&D: From Learning to Business Performance | L&D Disrupt | Episode 112

AI is changing how people work — but what does that mean for L&D?Kelsey, Learning & Performance Lead at HowNow, is joined by Patrick Mullarkey, founder of Byte and Build Consulting, to explore how AI is pushing L&D beyond traditional training and towards performance, business outcomes and commercial impact.They discuss what AI can’t replace, the importance of quality assurance and bias, using AI data to uncover real employee needs, and why L&D needs to move beyond vanity metrics. Patrick also shares his “giving away your Legos” analogy and explains why L&D professionals should seek mentors outside the People function.Chapters00:00 Own Business Outcomes01:59 Welcome Back to L&D03:30 AI Changes Everything05:15 Making AI Strategic09:34 What AI Can’t Replace16:22 Bias & Quality Risks19:07 The Quality Assurance Playbook25:51 L&D Becomes Performance29:45 The L&D Value Gap31:18 Know the Money33:41 Roadmaps to Experiments37:14 From Big to Modular42:01 AI Usage Insights45:40 Kill Vanity Metrics46:40 Giving Away Your Legos49:10 Own Real Outcomes50:46 Mentors Outside People54:34 Final Wrap-Up