The Mindtools L&D Podcast

485 — What will be hot in workplace L&D in 2026?

Mar 3, 2026
Donald Taylor, veteran L&D commentator and curator of the Global Sentiment Survey, shares why 2026 feels like a turning point. He and the hosts cover AI cooling from hype to toolkit. They discuss rising focus on proving value, the curious fall of learning analytics, personalization gains, and risks from agentic AI behavior.
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INSIGHT

AI Fever Has Peaked And Become A Toolkit

  • AI interest has plateaued after a feverish rise and shifted from hype to toolkit status in L&D.
  • Donald H. Taylor notes AI fell slightly this year and is now being used selectively rather than dominating agendas.
INSIGHT

AI Creates Mixed Opportunity And Anxiety

  • Sentiment about AI includes both opportunity and fear; technology is the top concern again after a dip.
  • Donald H. Taylor describes the current mood as a hangover: we felt on top in 2025 but now see it's bigger and scarier.
INSIGHT

AI Enables New Kinds Of L&D Work

  • Practitioners are already using generative tools to do previously impractical analysis and content tasks, changing the nature of work.
  • Donald H. Taylor uses Claude to analyze 80,000 words and produce complex charts fast, enabling new outputs.
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