“AI can replace instructional designers.”
It’s a bold statement, and one we’re hearing more and more.
With AI tools now able to generate learning objectives, scripts, quiz questions and even full eLearning modules in seconds, it’s easy to see why some might think instructional designers (IDs) are becoming redundant.
But here’s the reality: Whilst AI can absolutely enhance instructional design. It cannot replace it. Let’s unpack that!
Where AI genuinely helps in content creation
AI is an incredibly powerful assistant. Used well, it can:
- Generate first drafts of content quickly
- Create images rapidly from minimal prompts
- Develop scenario ideas or quiz questions
- Suggest clever ways to structure lessons and content
In short, it reduces production time.
For experienced instructional designers, this means less time staring at a blank page and more time refining and shaping. AI is brilliant at speeding up the mechanics of content creation. But efficiency is not the same as effectiveness. AI cannot replace instructional design thinking…
Instructional design is not about producing content. It’s about solving business problems through behaviour change.
And that’s where AI falls short:
❌ AI repeats. It works by recognising and reproducing patterns, which means it can generate modules that look polished, structured and complete, but are fundamentally the same thing reworded.
❌ AI won’t stop and ask whether training is actually what your learners need. Without strong instructional design direction, you end up with content for content’s sake.
❌ AI can hallucinate, over simplify and confidently state things that may not be true. Because AI generates responses based on probability (not understanding) it will sometimes fill in gaps with information that sounds right. Small inaccuracies can have big consequences!
❌ AI isn’t curated. If you let AI deliver answers without guardrails, you risk producing content that’s completely wrong for your business. Too generic, too corporate, too informal and not aligned with your culture.
Sometimes the quick and cheap AI course becomes the most expensive mistake the company makes.
At GuyKat, we use AI every day. But we use it deliberately.
Our instructional designers start with these questions:
- What’s the business problem?
- What behaviour needs to change?
- What’s preventing that change?
- What does success actually look like?
Those are human judgements. They require experience, empathy and commercial awareness.
Every organisation is different. Its culture, tone, systems and learners all shape how training should land. A technically correct module can still fail if it doesn’t fit the environment.
We partner with you to drive behaviour change.
Instructional Designers will always be necessary to perform discovery, workshops, define learning strategy or make final design decisions, none of which can be delivered by skipping a human review.
Every AI output at GuyKat passes through the hands of an experienced Instructional Designer. We refine, challenge, and shape that output to ensure it aligns with your specific goals.
We use AI to raise the bar of what’s possible, not to lower the standard of what’s acceptable.
Read more about our Content services
The real question isn’t “Will AI replace instructional designers?” it’s “What can great instructional designers do with AI?”
AI is not the threat, poor instructional design is.
AI can generate words but great instructional designers create change, and that’s not going anywhere.
In fact, when used well, AI raises the bar. It frees our team to focus less on admin and more on strategy, creativity and measurable impact.
Want to talk to a real human about it?
That’s where GuyKat comes in. Talk to Emma today, she’s our Head of Content Services (she’s real) and she’s ready to listen: Contact us