With ChatGPT becoming the go-to for every information request these days, one can hardly deny its impact on the learning processes. Thanks to its flexibility and ability to customise information as per the given prompt, Generative AI (GenAI) is rapidly becoming the preferred way of searching for information for many.
The ease of GenAI has, needless to say, also impacted the learning and development (L&D) processes in many companies. With many preferring the tool to traditional training methods, companies across India are also coming around to the idea of utilising GenAI to the max when it comes to upskilling employees.
The Current State of L&D in Indian Startups
As per IMARC, in 2024, the corporate training market in India was worth an impressive USD 10.8 billion. This is only expected to grow in the upcoming years with an estimated 8–13% CAGR through 2029.
A significant reason behind the increasing emphasis on L&D programs in India is the rapidly evolving technologies across industries. Interestingly enough, the emergence of new tools and technologies can also be laid at the feet of artificial intelligence (AI).
The corporate e‑learning segment alone, as per Grand View Horizon, generated USD 3.52 billion in 2024. These studies and trends highlight that not only is India looking to upskill at a rapid pace, but it wants to do it as per individual needs and future demands.
While companies in the country are happy enough to invest in their talent, it is essential that these investments consider the available resources to maximise learning efficiency.
What GenAI Can Do in L&D
ChatGPT, and GenAI in general, has become an easy-to-use tool for many to not take advantage of. Undeniably, GenAI is revolutionising the L&D space, and companies across India should ensure they utilise it as efficiently as possible.
“With GenAI, it is possible to do more targeted TNIs and provide more specific solutions. The days of carpet bombing are probably behind us,” explained Dipankar Das, Director of SeekGrowth Learning Solutions.
Rather than fighting the use of this emerging technology, L&D teams across India have a golden opportunity to embrace GenAI and use it to enhance the learning experience for all.
What sets GenAI apart from any previously used tools is its ability to interact in a human way with employees, understand their specific queries and provide answers in a summarised manner rather than simply redirecting them towards available resources in the company database or the internet.
- Combining Resources: GenAI typically only has access to publicly available data. By combining this with the company’s own learning resources, L&D teams create a unique database for their employees to access and learn from.
- Hyperpersonalization: With GenAI inculcated in a company’s L&D system, employees can have learning programs catered to their individual needs.
- Ease of Availability: Thanks to its ease of access, employees can ask and resolve their queries at any time through the ease of their systems. This helps increase the efficiency of the learning process while also providing employees with an easy-to-interact interface that they can use to ask even the simplest of questions.
What GenAI Can’t Do on Its Own
While many have come to believe that ChatGPT can do it all, there are still some areas, especially when it comes to L&D, that GenAI still lags behind.
Consider hyperpersonalised lessons. While the AI’s ability to draft an extremely personalised learning path is indeed a marvel, the uniqueness remains limited to what the tool can access and what parameters it has received.
“Pros are clear. More personalised and targeted learning consumption,” Das shared while talking about hyperpersonalised lessons. “But for the developers, it is going to be tougher to design and deliver more varied solutions, which they may not have been used to so far.”
What such a scenario highlights is that any tool, even one with capabilities as vast and varied as GenAI, can not function on its own. Indeed, even with its many pros, GenAI does come with its own set of challenges.
- Culture Unawareness: For all its abilities, GenAI does lack the awareness of startup-specific culture, values, and context. These can vary depending upon the company, and while GenAI may have a basic understanding of what any good startup culture should have, it will not be aware of the specific nuances that develop as a part of an ever-evolving culture.
- Long-Term Uncertainty: While GenAI can be a boon when it comes to creating short-term plans for employee learning, it does struggle with understanding the long-term impacts of a decision and delivering a strategic plan according to the same.
- Human Adjustments: GenAI, based on given prompts, can sometimes indeed offer conflicting information. It can also struggle with complying with regulations not built into its algorithm and can create ethical issues if left unsupervised.
Opportunities for Hybrid AI‑Human Models
The best way to use GenAI to its fullest in an L&D environment is to combine it with human insights and supervision. The technology is efficient in ways that are truly awe-inspiring. However, it can also lead to oversharing of data and many sensitivity and compliance issues.
“AI is a good enabler. Impact will still have to come from relevant and well-designed content. So that will remain the same,” emphasised Das.
The ideal way to use GenAI in learning models is perhaps to use it as a learning assistant. The AI-based tools can be a boon when it comes to drafting onboarding content, answering basic queries, generating quizzes, and supporting 24/7 micro‑learning.
Thanks to its vast data, GenAI is ideally suited to Indian startups that are working on limited budgets and high agility. Through founder oversight and the guidance of even a single L&D expert, GenAI can transform learning into a truly engaging experience.
Guidance for Indian Startups
To make the full use of GenAI within your startup, it is important to understand not only the needs of your company but also its capabilities and limitations.
- Conduct a baseline L&D assessment: Take note of your budget, team size, and learning gaps.
- Identify suitable use cases: Based on your needs, assess what GenAI tools can help your team with. This can include onboarding modules, knowledge base FAQs, and quick learning prompts.
- Train L&D Teams: The most efficient way to use GenAI in your L&D system is to ensure that your HR/L&D leaders are well-versed in prompt engineering and AI oversight.
- LMS Integration: Integrate GenAI with existing LMS or blended learning platforms; measure outcomes via engagement and feedback metrics.
In the End…
Despite the vast capabilities of GenAI tools like ChatGPT, it does not seem likely that they will be replacing complete L&D teams anytime soon. While it does provide a variety of invaluable resources, it remains an enabler rather than a replacement.
“The human touch will continue to be crucial. When e-learning had dawned on the world in the 1990s, the death of the classroom was announced. But the Classroom continues to thrive,” shared Das.
“AI too may not be able to replace the human touch. Overall, there is no reason for alarm; instead, we are living through a phase of history which is exciting and pregnant with possibilities.”
For startups across India, the best way to maximise the efficiency of their L&D programs it to combine GenAI with human insight and governance. Treat the tool like a highly efficient library that still requires some semblance of organisation to make sure that employees are receiving what they need.
AI-human blended L&D is a future-forward model. It is smarter, scalable, and sensitive to context, allowing one to personalise their learning experience while keeping short and long-term impacts in mind.
