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What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “the future of work”?
And what if we’ve been thinking about it all wrong?
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic (which now feels like a distant dream of sourdough starter, Zoom calls and Tiger King marathons), the debate about “remote vs. in-office” work hasn’t waned. The focus of these discussions is usually productivity: “How can you be sure remote workers are being productive?” “Does being in the office necessarily equal productivity?” “Are Return-to-Office mandates truly accessible for every employee?” (Spoiler alert: No!)
But the biggest shift isn’t about location; it’s about how we work.
In the last few years, ChatGPT and Gen AI have also become huge topics of workplace discussions. How ethical is Gen AI? How can we use it safely? How will it change work?
In 2025, one thing is clear: For better or worse, the organisations that thrive will be those that embrace AI tools instead of resisting them. This technology has already markedly transformed the way we work and learn, so much so that legislation is being continuously rolled out to keep up with new developments in the field – and college professors are required to adopt a new level of vigilance to detect its use in academic work.
What does all this have to do with L&D, and the future of work?
When it comes to learning technology, the next wave of change is bound to come from AI tools that optimise workflows in a way that’s personal and accessible for every user. It’s tempting to resist change – but the fact is if you’re pushing back against that wave, your organisation risks falling behind.
To quote PwC’s “Workforce of the Future” report:
“We are living through a fundamental transformation in the way we work. Automation and 'thinking machines' are replacing human tasks, changing the skills that organisations are looking for in their people. But what will the future look like?
This isn’t a time to sit back and wait for events to unfold. To be prepared for the future, you have to understand it.”
In this blog, we’ll explore three key areas in which AI is making waves: Productivity, training, and collaboration. When organisations harness all three of these areas, it’s our belief that they’ll be prepared for a future that’s smart, not just remote.
One of the oft-revisited assertions in the AI discussion is that the technology will take jobs away from humans, particularly creatives.
We’re sure you’ll agree that the thought of a world in which we prioritise an AI-authored portrait over that of a talented human artist is a bleak one. We’ve seen enough AI-generated, six-fingered humanoid beings to know that that’s not a smart thing to advocate for. Instead, AI should be used to automate the dull, repetitive tasks that get in the way of humans being creative; those that block up our time so we have less of it to devote to learning, creating and collaborating.
You only have to look at the way smart automation and agentic AI is transforming almost every single industry to know that this is the element of AI-powered work we should be advocating for. AI-powered chatbots handle customer queries (with, admittedly, varying levels of success); algorithms detect inefficiencies in supply chains; and intelligent software manages workflows to help us avoid getting overwhelmed.
Another key area in which AI is being applied is adaptive learning.
Adaptive learning is, unsurprisingly, learning or training that adapts to the individual, rather than the other way around. It’s training for the modern world, devoid of expectations that employees should change how they learn to fit the training presented to them. Instead, the training adapts to each user to create an experience that is as effective and personalised as possible.
How does that compare to traditional workplace learning?
When we think of traditional workplace learning, the phrase “One-size-fits-all” comes to mind. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with off the shelf learning (for example, content that covers topics like cybersecurity, DEI, and customer service) – but adaptive learning recontextualises those resources so that they’re only served to the people who need them in order to upskill.
Let’s take product training as an example. If you’re in a commercial or customer facing role, you may need to do something more hands-on such as recording a demo to prove your presentation skills. Meanwhile, someone in the support team may just need to complete a quiz to prove their knowledge.
In both instances, the employees are learning relevant knowledge – but in a way that adapts to their specific job function.
AI is further changing the game for learning platforms, to avoid the type of training that doesn’t take into account the way real people learn. Instead, smart platforms use machine learning to tailor programmes to individual needs – considering everything from current skill level, to skill gaps, to goals.
This new way of learning isn’t only about convenience; it’s about impact. Employees get the support they need, when they need it, in a format that makes sense to them.
With that in mind, let’s go back to AI chatbots for a moment.
Remember earlier in this blog when we said that AI chatbots have become the norm, but with varying levels of success?
Well, we believe it’s time to usher in a new era of AI assistants for workplace learning – assistants that listen, take in information, and surface only the most relevant answers for your employees. In other words: AI assistants that actually work.
Introducing Kiki: Your AI sidekick that’s always one step ahead, surfacing answers wherever they may be (Notion, Drive, Confluence and more) and presenting them within your learning platform. The best bit? She’s fully brandable and powerfully personalised – making learning intuitive, effortless, and so relevant it feels like wizardry.
The best, most productive workplaces aren’t defined by geography; they’re defined by how well teams connect and collaborate. That’s why we believe the future of work is smart as well as remote – yes, we’ll likely be working in different locations to our colleagues, but our productivity will be defined by how well we work together. AI tools are one of the essential elements of this – through using these tools, you make all types of work (whether remote, hybrid, or in-office) seamless.
Everything from project management to automated scheduling is covered, and this era of AI-driven productivity is setting the stage for a future in which the friction is fully removed from everyday tasks.
Anyone with a remote or hybrid workforce will be keenly aware of the difficulties this can present when it comes to communication and collaboration – but AI-powered collaboration tools and learning platforms can help bridge this gap. Need the notes from a meeting? There’s an automated transcription. Need to communicate news to your workforce? You can do so within the same learning platform that houses their training. Whatever you need, there’s probably an AI for that.
The future of work isn’t just “remote” or “in-office”; it’s smart.
Organisations that embrace AI to build a smart workplace will be more productive and better equipped to support their employees. Crucially, the focus shouldn’t just be on where people work, but on how AI can help them work better.
This isn’t some distant, abstract future reminiscent of a Sci-Fi novel. It’s happening now – and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Businesses that invest in AI are already seeing improvements in productivity and employee satisfaction. Just look at Thrive customer Reiss, whose use of Thrive’s AI Assistant is helping them achieve their L&D mantra: “Deskless doesn’t mean voiceless.”
The question isn’t whether AI will reshape work; it absolutely will. The question is whether organisations will adapt fast enough to keep up.
Are you one of them?
For a learning platform that adapts to your learners, is on the forefront of innovation, and uses AI to make work smarter, not harder, book a Thrive demo today.
Explore what impact Thrive could make for your team and your learners today.
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What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “the future of work”?
And what if we’ve been thinking about it all wrong?
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic (which now feels like a distant dream of sourdough starter, Zoom calls and Tiger King marathons), the debate about “remote vs. in-office” work hasn’t waned. The focus of these discussions is usually productivity: “How can you be sure remote workers are being productive?” “Does being in the office necessarily equal productivity?” “Are Return-to-Office mandates truly accessible for every employee?” (Spoiler alert: No!)
But the biggest shift isn’t about location; it’s about how we work.
In the last few years, ChatGPT and Gen AI have also become huge topics of workplace discussions. How ethical is Gen AI? How can we use it safely? How will it change work?
In 2025, one thing is clear: For better or worse, the organisations that thrive will be those that embrace AI tools instead of resisting them. This technology has already markedly transformed the way we work and learn, so much so that legislation is being continuously rolled out to keep up with new developments in the field – and college professors are required to adopt a new level of vigilance to detect its use in academic work.
What does all this have to do with L&D, and the future of work?
When it comes to learning technology, the next wave of change is bound to come from AI tools that optimise workflows in a way that’s personal and accessible for every user. It’s tempting to resist change – but the fact is if you’re pushing back against that wave, your organisation risks falling behind.
To quote PwC’s “Workforce of the Future” report:
“We are living through a fundamental transformation in the way we work. Automation and 'thinking machines' are replacing human tasks, changing the skills that organisations are looking for in their people. But what will the future look like?
This isn’t a time to sit back and wait for events to unfold. To be prepared for the future, you have to understand it.”
In this blog, we’ll explore three key areas in which AI is making waves: Productivity, training, and collaboration. When organisations harness all three of these areas, it’s our belief that they’ll be prepared for a future that’s smart, not just remote.
One of the oft-revisited assertions in the AI discussion is that the technology will take jobs away from humans, particularly creatives.
We’re sure you’ll agree that the thought of a world in which we prioritise an AI-authored portrait over that of a talented human artist is a bleak one. We’ve seen enough AI-generated, six-fingered humanoid beings to know that that’s not a smart thing to advocate for. Instead, AI should be used to automate the dull, repetitive tasks that get in the way of humans being creative; those that block up our time so we have less of it to devote to learning, creating and collaborating.
You only have to look at the way smart automation and agentic AI is transforming almost every single industry to know that this is the element of AI-powered work we should be advocating for. AI-powered chatbots handle customer queries (with, admittedly, varying levels of success); algorithms detect inefficiencies in supply chains; and intelligent software manages workflows to help us avoid getting overwhelmed.
Another key area in which AI is being applied is adaptive learning.
Adaptive learning is, unsurprisingly, learning or training that adapts to the individual, rather than the other way around. It’s training for the modern world, devoid of expectations that employees should change how they learn to fit the training presented to them. Instead, the training adapts to each user to create an experience that is as effective and personalised as possible.
How does that compare to traditional workplace learning?
When we think of traditional workplace learning, the phrase “One-size-fits-all” comes to mind. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with off the shelf learning (for example, content that covers topics like cybersecurity, DEI, and customer service) – but adaptive learning recontextualises those resources so that they’re only served to the people who need them in order to upskill.
Let’s take product training as an example. If you’re in a commercial or customer facing role, you may need to do something more hands-on such as recording a demo to prove your presentation skills. Meanwhile, someone in the support team may just need to complete a quiz to prove their knowledge.
In both instances, the employees are learning relevant knowledge – but in a way that adapts to their specific job function.
AI is further changing the game for learning platforms, to avoid the type of training that doesn’t take into account the way real people learn. Instead, smart platforms use machine learning to tailor programmes to individual needs – considering everything from current skill level, to skill gaps, to goals.
This new way of learning isn’t only about convenience; it’s about impact. Employees get the support they need, when they need it, in a format that makes sense to them.
With that in mind, let’s go back to AI chatbots for a moment.
Remember earlier in this blog when we said that AI chatbots have become the norm, but with varying levels of success?
Well, we believe it’s time to usher in a new era of AI assistants for workplace learning – assistants that listen, take in information, and surface only the most relevant answers for your employees. In other words: AI assistants that actually work.
Introducing Kiki: Your AI sidekick that’s always one step ahead, surfacing answers wherever they may be (Notion, Drive, Confluence and more) and presenting them within your learning platform. The best bit? She’s fully brandable and powerfully personalised – making learning intuitive, effortless, and so relevant it feels like wizardry.
The best, most productive workplaces aren’t defined by geography; they’re defined by how well teams connect and collaborate. That’s why we believe the future of work is smart as well as remote – yes, we’ll likely be working in different locations to our colleagues, but our productivity will be defined by how well we work together. AI tools are one of the essential elements of this – through using these tools, you make all types of work (whether remote, hybrid, or in-office) seamless.
Everything from project management to automated scheduling is covered, and this era of AI-driven productivity is setting the stage for a future in which the friction is fully removed from everyday tasks.
Anyone with a remote or hybrid workforce will be keenly aware of the difficulties this can present when it comes to communication and collaboration – but AI-powered collaboration tools and learning platforms can help bridge this gap. Need the notes from a meeting? There’s an automated transcription. Need to communicate news to your workforce? You can do so within the same learning platform that houses their training. Whatever you need, there’s probably an AI for that.
The future of work isn’t just “remote” or “in-office”; it’s smart.
Organisations that embrace AI to build a smart workplace will be more productive and better equipped to support their employees. Crucially, the focus shouldn’t just be on where people work, but on how AI can help them work better.
This isn’t some distant, abstract future reminiscent of a Sci-Fi novel. It’s happening now – and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Businesses that invest in AI are already seeing improvements in productivity and employee satisfaction. Just look at Thrive customer Reiss, whose use of Thrive’s AI Assistant is helping them achieve their L&D mantra: “Deskless doesn’t mean voiceless.”
The question isn’t whether AI will reshape work; it absolutely will. The question is whether organisations will adapt fast enough to keep up.
Are you one of them?
For a learning platform that adapts to your learners, is on the forefront of innovation, and uses AI to make work smarter, not harder, book a Thrive demo today.
Explore what impact Thrive could make for your team and your learners today.
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