AI at Learning Technologies 2025: Hype, Hope, and a Hint of Reality

Walking into Learning Technologies 2025 at ExCeL London, you could be forgiven for thinking that AI had not only arrived but had already declared itself king, queen, and chief court jester of the learning world.

Artificial intelligence was everywhere, from keynote stages to the smallest exhibition stands, and if you were not talking about AI, you were probably talking about why you were not talking about AI.

However, once you scratched beneath the surface, the reality was a little more textured.

Everyone’s talking AI, but few are actually doing it

Despite AI dominating every conversation, it quickly became obvious that only a minority of exhibitors had actual, working AI-powered products ready to show.

Many others were presenting AI more as an ambition, or, in some cases, a marketing flourish. There were plenty of traditional tools freshly sprinkled with a bit of "AI magic" — a chatbot here, an auto-tagging feature there — and some suspiciously vague promises about upcoming functionality.

It felt a bit like advertising a Michelin-starred menu and then proudly serving slightly warmed supermarket pizza with "gourmet" handwritten on the box.

When it’s good, it’s very good. When it’s not... Well.

Among the genuine AI products, there were some genuinely impressive offerings: platforms that could track learner decisions in real time, generate professional-quality video content from text prompts, or even provide AI-driven leadership coaching available 24/7.

But inevitably, some tools fell into the "we have added AI because everyone else has" category. Products that proudly promised AI-driven results but delivered little more than a glorified quiz or a lightning-fast content factory.

Mike Herbert-Roche summed it up well in his reflections on the event:

We do not need more content, we need better content.

It is a sentiment that really stuck. With AI capable of generating reams of material at the touch of a button, quantity is no longer the issue, quality is. Learners can smell filler a mile away, and most of them, quite frankly, do not have the patience for it anymore.

Focus on business impact, not just shiny features

The most valuable discussions at Learning Technologies 2025 were refreshingly practical. The real question was not “How clever is this tool?” but rather,

What business problem is it solving?

Whether it is accelerating onboarding, improving leadership conversations, or scaling learning opportunities without scaling headcount, AI only earns its place when it drives measurable improvement.

Tools that demonstrated clear links to improving retention, skills development, decision-making, or performance outcomes stood out. Tools that simply made things look a bit flashier without improving results did not.

Before getting starry-eyed about AI’s possibilities, the most important question to ask is still the simplest:

Does it make a meaningful difference to the business? If the answer is "maybe," it is probably a "no."

Learners Still Expect Human Experiences

A consistent theme throughout the event was the growing expectation for personalised learning journeys. Today's learners do not just want vast libraries of courses and articles; they expect relevant, curated experiences that meet them where they are, both professionally and personally.

AI can absolutely help. Intelligent AI platforms, like Maestro from Degreed (yes I am of course a little biased here!), are enabling far more tailored coaching and learning journeys by delivering personalised recommendations based on skills, goals, and preferences.

However, some elements of learning remain fundamentally human. While AI can offer smart suggestions and efficient pathways and even personalised coaching conversations, it cannot replicate the social learning, emotional connection, or human nuance that makes learning truly stick.

In Conclusion

Learning Technologies 2025 showcased the best, and the more aspirational, sides of AI in workplace learning.

The best AI-powered tools were not just about making things faster or cheaper. They focused on making learning more relevant, more impactful, and ultimately, more human. The rest? Well, there is still a thriving market for flashy demos that do not deliver much beyond the sizzle.

For those of us serious about building meaningful learning experiences, the real challenge is not just adopting AI because it is fashionable. It is adopting AI where it delivers real business value, enhances personalisation without sacrificing human connection, and ultimately makes learning experiences better, not just faster.

As ever, the real work begins now, long after the exhibition stands have been packed away.

👇 Your Turn:

What stood out to you about AI at Learning Technologies 2025? Were you more inspired, or more sceptical, about what is coming next? Would love to hear your take in the comments.