L&D Teams Prioritize Practical AI Learning and Critical
A new survey reveals a gap between how learning and development teams want to learn about AI and what vendors provide, with a strong preference for
Learning and development teams are actively exploring AI tools, with 59% of surveyed professionals reporting this activity. According to a new report from eLearning Industry titled The AI Expectation Gap In Learning Tech 2026, only 37% are actively implementing AI, indicating a market still in transition from awareness to action.
Buyers show a clear preference for practical, experience-driven education about artificial intelligence. The channels they use most frequently to learn reveal this focus.
How Professionals Learn About AI
Professionals primarily educate themselves about AI through webinars and industry events, used by 64% of respondents. Industry websites are the second most popular channel at 56%. Hands-on testing and peer groups also play significant roles, chosen by 44% and 43% of buyers respectively. Vendor content remains influential but is used by only 42%, suggesting buyers balance provider information with independent sources.
Vendors, however, tend to focus their educational efforts on more structured, owned channels like blogs, newsletters, LinkedIn, and product demonstrations. This creates a potential disconnect between where buyers seek information and where vendors invest their content.
Top Buyer Questions and Training Gaps
When speaking to vendors, buyers ask practical questions. Their most common requests center on automated content generation, personalized learning paths, and data privacy. Integration with existing learning management systems and cost efficiency are also frequent topics.
This practical focus extends to preferred training formats. Buyers overwhelmingly favor flexible, experiential learning methods.
| Training Format | Buyer Preference |
|---|---|
| Self-paced learning | 65% |
| Hands-on practice | 64% |
| Interactive tutorials | 56% |
| Microlearning | 53% |
Vendor offerings only partially align with these expectations. While self-paced learning and microlearning are common, significantly fewer providers report offering the hands-on practice or interactive tutorials that buyers want. The report notes, "The demand for practical AI learning currently exceeds supply."
Skills Valued in the AI-Enabled Workplace
Despite the technological focus, the survey found that human skills are considered most important for success. Critical thinking emerged as the most important capability, selected by 67% of buyers and 61% of vendors. Adaptability was the next highest-ranked skill.
Both groups also emphasized AI tool fluency and AI collaboration, indicating an expectation that professionals will work alongside AI systems. Technical AI skills ranked lower in priority than these blended human and technical capabilities.
Cautious Investment and the Need for Proof
Investment sentiment reflects this cautious, value-driven approach. While 28% of buyers are actively exploring new technology investments, the largest segment, 42%, said purchasing decisions depend on available resources and demonstrated value. Pricing willingness tells a similar story: only 3% are willing to pay significantly more for AI capabilities, while 42% tie willingness to pay directly to proven use cases and outcomes.
During evaluations, buyers place the greatest value on trial access (57%), real-world use cases (54%), and webinars or workshops (48%). Fewer vendors use customer reviews or ROI-focused content, despite buyers actively seeking these forms of validation. The market has not yet established a dominant AI monetization model, with some vendors including AI in standard offerings and others treating it as a premium add-on. The report concludes that vendors may struggle to charge premiums for AI without demonstrating clear, measurable business impact.
