What is an AI authoring tool?

AI authoring tools are changing how organisations create digital learning content. They use artificial intelligence – including large language models (LLMs) – to help teams design, generate and maintain learning content (such as elearning courses or standalone microlearning resources) quickly and consistently, without relying on specialist instructional design skills. They're one of the most exciting AI tools for L&D teams on the market today – but why?

Following on from our recent deep dive into AI skills intelligence platforms (like Helix), this guide explains what an AI authoring tool is, how it compares to traditional elearning authoring tools, who it’s best suited for and why our very own VeeCreate is one of the best AI authoring tools on the market today.

What is an AI authoring tool?

AI authoring tool definition

An AI authoring tool is software that uses artificial intelligence to help organisations create, structure and update learning content such as elearning courses, microlearning, employee onboarding resources, compliance training and skills-based learning.

Unlike traditional elearning authoring tools, AI authoring tools can generate learning content from:

• Written prompts or learning objectives
• Existing documents, policies or slide decks
• Subject matter expertise captured through simple inputs

This significantly reduces the manual effort required to use most traditional authoring tools, as well as eliminating the need for instructional design, learning design and graphic design expertise, as it’s all handled by the AI authoring tool itself.

In simple terms: an AI authoring tool helps you turn knowledge into learning, faster and with less effort than a traditional authoring tool.

AI authoring tools vs traditional elearning authoring tools

Comparison: AI vs traditional authoring tools

Traditional authoring tools have been used in L&D for years, but they assume time, expertise and dedicated learning design capacity. AI authoring tools take a different approach.

Traditional tools ask: “How do you want to build this?”
AI authoring tools ask: “What do people need to learn?”

Benefits of AI authoring tools

AI authoring tools provide more than just faster content creation. Their real value lies in reducing friction across the entire learning creation process.

Key benefits of AI authoring tools

1. Faster learning content creation
   While it’s not the only benefit, the ability to generate structured learning in minutes instead of weeks is certainly a huge advantage of AI authoring tools!
2. Reduced reliance on learning design expertise
   AI embeds learning science and instructional best practice, making high-quality, engaging learning accessible to non-specialists.
3. Easier content updates and maintenance
   Quickly adapt and update learning content when policies, roles or priorities change.
4. More consistent learning quality
   Standardise structure, tone and outcomes across content created by different people, ensuring content doesn’t feel disjointed or inconsistent.
5. Scalable learning creation
   Create more, higher-quality learning without increasing headcount, needing to outsource or needing comprehensive instructional design training.
   
   

Who are AI authoring tools most useful for?

AI authoring tools are especially useful for:

• Small L&D teams with limited time and resources
• Overstretched HR teams managing onboarding, compliance and skills
• Organisations without in-house learning designers
• Subject matter experts who need to share knowledge but lack authoring experience
• Growing businesses that need scalable learning creation

For these teams, AI removes the biggest barriers to learning creation: time, expertise and complexity, making it quicker and easier to create the best-quality learning with no need to develop new skills.

Why VeeCreate is a strong AI authoring tool

VeeCreate is 5app’s AI-powered authoring tool, designed for modern, performance-focused workplace learning. We’ve partnered with AI authoring tool experts Mindsmith to ensure VeeCreate is a best-of-breed tool, including the ability to search SCORM content (yes, really!), generate images and videos within the authoring tool and the ability to create branded templates for consistency across your entire learning content catalogue.

What makes VeeCreate different from other authoring tools?

• Built for performance, not just content – learning is designed to support real-world application
• Designed for non-experts – no instructional design background required
• Integrated with the wider 5app ecosystem – learning is delivered in the flow of work, not locked in an LMS
• Rapid creation from prompts or existing materials – turn ideas and documents into structured learning quickly
• Easy to update and adapt – keep learning relevant as roles and skills evolve

VeeCreate is ideal for organisations that want the benefits of AI-powered learning creation without sacrificing quality, governance or control over their content.

Is an AI authoring tool right for you?

An AI authoring tool may be a good fit if:

• You need to create learning quickly, but don’t have weeks to design courses
• Your HR or L&D team is small, overstretched or wearing multiple hats
• You rely on subject matter experts (SMEs) who struggle to turn knowledge into learning
• Your learning content changes frequently and is hard to keep up to date
• You want consistent learning quality without hiring specialist designers

An AI authoring tool may not be the right fit if:

• You only create learning very occasionally
• You have a large in-house instructional design team with established processes
• Your organisation requires highly bespoke, long-form multimedia courses for every programme

For most modern organisations, especially growing businesses and lean teams, AI authoring tools provide a faster, more sustainable way to create effective learning.

Frequently asked questions about AI authoring tools

AI authoring tools: a summary

An AI authoring tool:

• Uses artificial intelligence and LLMs to generate learning content
• Reduces time, cost and dependency on specialist skills
• Makes learning creation accessible to HR, L&D and subject matter experts
• Helps organisations scale learning without scaling teams

As AI becomes central to how work gets done, AI authoring tools are becoming a core part of the modern learning technology stack. Compared with traditional tools, AI tools can lighten the load of smaller L&D teams or HR teams with limited learning design experience, making them a great choice for many organisations looking to punch above their weight when it comes to creating and delivering high-impact learning experiences.