Making knowledge stick – AI's approach

When it comes to learning, we all have our preferences. Some of us are more engaged by stories and discussions, while others thrive with visuals – diagrams, charts, and images that help solidify concepts. And then there are those who learn best by getting hands-on, applying knowledge in real-life situations. Most of the time, a mix of all these approaches works best.

However, in corporate learning, this variety often gets overlooked. Training programmes are too often built with a one-size-fits-all mentality, leading to poor employee engagement and leaving organisations unsure whether their investments are truly paying off.

This is where AI agents come into play. They offer a chance to breathe new life into existing training materials and provide a more personalised approach that helps knowledge really stick.

At 5app, we’ve been busy developing our own AI agent, and I’m excited to share that it’s now available as part of an early access programme ahead of a full launch in 2025. The early feedback has been fantastic, and in this edition of my CEO series, I share some of the reasons why our customers are singing its praises.

1. Making learning personal (finally!)

One of the biggest problems in corporate learning is the one-size-fits-all approach. Employees in different roles and with varying levels of experience often find themselves receiving the same generic training, which doesn’t speak to their unique needs or challenges. The result? Frustration and lack of engagement.

AI agents change that by taking the same content and tailoring it to fit your specific job and level of experience. Instead of delivering the same training to everyone, AI allows you to ask questions that directly relate to your daily tasks. Whether you're a senior leader tackling strategic decisions, a mid-level manager handling team dynamics or a new hire facing your first big project, the AI agent can provide advice that’s relevant to your situation.

For instance, a leadership training module might be part of the content, but the AI can offer advice specific to a senior leader’s needs – say, guiding them through an organisational change – while offering a new manager insights into how to motivate and manage their team. By contextualising the content to your role and experience, the learning becomes far more impactful and actionable.

This personalised learning approach ensures the content resonates with each employee's role, responsibilities and career stage – making learning far more effective and easier to apply.

2. Boosting engagement in the flow of work

Building on the idea of personalisation, another key benefit of AI in learning is its ability to integrate seamlessly into your daily work. Traditional training can often feel disconnected from what you’re actually doing on the job. It’s like a separate task that doesn’t always align with the immediate challenges you’re facing.

This is where AI really shines. Think of it as a trusted sidekick – always by your side, ready to offer support when you need it most. Instead of a formal, one-time training session, AI is there in the moment, ready to offer real-time assistance while you’re working through your tasks. Imagine being in the middle of a project or dealing with a complex issue, and you need some quick guidance or clarification. The AI can offer suggestions, share relevant resources or help you make decisions in the moment.

For example, if you’re managing a challenging team dynamic, the AI agent can provide you with tailored tips on how to navigate the situation. Or, if you’re working on a proposal and need to quickly double-check certain details, the AI agent can help confirm your approach or provide a refresher on best practices. It’s like having a colleague who’s always there to sense-check your work and help you stay on track.

By being an always-accessible resource, AI doesn’t just provide training at a set point in time. It becomes embedded in your everyday workflow, offering help when you need it. It’s learning that happens in real-time, making your workday smoother and more productive.

3. Cutting through the noise

Today’s employees are constantly bombarded with information. Between emails, reports and training materials, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what’s relevant and where to focus your attention. Your LMS likely has hundreds, if not thousands, of materials and courses, where do you start?

AI agents act as intelligent curators, cutting through the noise to deliver the most useful content right when you need it. Instead of wasting time sifting through an endless library of resources, employees can rely on AI to surface the most pertinent information at just the right moment.

This 'just-in-time' learning approach reduces stress and ensures that training feels focused and manageable – helping employees stay on track and not feel overwhelmed.

4. Measuring what matters

One of the most frustrating aspects of corporate learning is the lack of clear metrics for success. How do we know if employees are applying what they’ve learned? And more importantly, is it driving business results?

AI agents take the guesswork out of evaluating training effectiveness. They track progress, engagement and outcomes in real-time, giving actionable insights into what’s working and what needs improvement, helping you measure the success of your learning initiatives.

For organisations, this means you can fine-tune your learning strategy with data-backed insights, and clearly demonstrate the ROI of your training programmes. It’s no longer about guessing whether training is effective – it’s about seeing real, measurable results.

5. Breaking down barriers

In large, global organisations, language and cultural differences can make training feel inaccessible or irrelevant for some teams.

AI agents help overcome these barriers by providing real-time translation and localisation. Whether you’re working in a multilingual team or rolling out a programme across different regions, the AI agent ensures that content is delivered in a way that resonates with every learner, regardless of their background, location or language.

5app’s AI agent: now in early access

I’m incredibly proud to say that our AI agent is now live and available in early access with select customers. It’s been thrilling to see how it’s already addressing key challenges – personalising learning journeys, boosting engagement and providing real-time support.

The feedback from early adopters has been inspiring. Employees are telling us how the AI is helping them build skills faster, feel more confident and stay engaged in their learning. For organisations, it’s bringing clarity to learning and development efforts, making it easier to align training initiatives with overall business goals.

If your organisation is facing challenges like low engagement, skill gaps or difficulties scaling training programs, I’d love to talk about how our AI agent can help. It’s designed to address these problems directly and make a measurable difference for your team.

The future of corporate learning is here – personalised, engaging, and results-driven – and we’re excited to be part of it.