Designing Learning in the Age of AI: Staying human in the loop!

Remember what this looks like???

Sometimes I sit quietly with a blank piece of paper. No screens, no apps, just pen and thought. I let ideas wander and words find their shape in ink. It’s simple, but powerful.

That act reminds me of something essential...the ability to think deeply is one of our most human gifts. And while AI tools have become extraordinary companions in my creative process, I never want to surrender my ability, or responsibility, to think.

AI as a partner, not auto-pilot

For me, AI is a tool, a brilliant, supportive one. When I design training, I use it to help me structure the flow, spark ideas, suggest exercises and fill in gaps. It’s like having an amazing creative assistant who’s always ready with a suggestion or a spark of inspiration.

But there’s a line I consciously draw. I don’t want AI to replace my process of thinking, designing, or connecting. It’s not there to take over my human intuition, the very thing that makes learning come alive. AI helps raise my IQ but I have a responsibility to raise my own EI (Emotional Intelligence) when using it.

The human connection is the real learning space

When I design a learning session, what matters most to me isn’t the mechanics of the training. It’s the moments of connection, the laughter, the questions, the “aha” moments that happen when people share, reflect and learn together.

That’s where real learning happens, in the shared experience

AI can help me create structure and efficiency, but it can’t replicate presence, the energy of being in a room or online with people, exploring ideas, learning from mistakes and successes in real time.

If my training was just me reading AI-generated slides and scripts, why would anyone attend? They could just watch a YouTube tutorial. There’s nothing wrong with that, for basic skills, videos are great. But deep learning requires engagement, not automation. It requires conversation, curiosity, and empathy.

I’m not interested in becoming an avatar trainer!

This philosophy ties into the bigger conversation about responsible AI. Using AI ethically isn’t just about data and bias, it’s also about balance. It’s about knowing when to use the tool and when to set it aside.

AI should expand our creativity, not diminish it. It should help us connect better, not replace the connection altogether.

The heart of learning is still human

So yes, I use AI. I enjoy it. It makes me sharper and more imaginative. But before I open a prompt, I often return to that quiet space, just me, a blank page, and my own thoughts.

Because in learning, as in life, technology should amplify our humanity, not erase it.

#HCAI #HumanCenteredAI #LearningDesign #Humanintheloop #EmotionalIntelligence