The artificial intelligence (AI) gold rush has begun. As of 2023, there are more than 200 generative-AI-based startups in the world, all competing to develop new capabilities that will help businesses pick up a shovel and capitalize on this still nascent technology. Natural language processing (NLP) and AI models like ChatGPT are paving the way for exciting new use cases such as content creation, automation, sentiment analysis, real-time data analytics, enhanced communication and translation, and countless others. The potential for business transformation is intoxicating — is it any wonder businesses around the world are scrambling to figure out how to leverage generative AI to their advantage?

Yet, instead of turning their attention outward and figuring out how to cash in and monetize generative AI tools, businesses would do well to take a more introspective approach. What areas of their business can be improved, optimized and streamlined with the use of NPL and AI more generally? While it isn’t often talked about, corporate training deserves to be at the top of that list.

Companies that invest in their corporate training programs tend to have improved employee retention, higher morale and the perks of having a well-trained workforce that can reach and even exceed their potential. Let’s explore what the likes of NLP and ChatGPT have to offer in the field of corporate training.

The Rise of Pre-trained Generative AI

Let’s start with the basics. NLP is a subfield of AI that focuses on the interaction between computers and humans using conversational language. It enables computers to understand, interpret and respond to human language. What sets ChatGPT apart is that it uses NLP technology together with pre-trained language models based on huge sets of data to create generative, human-like responses to queries. That means businesses can use tools like ChatGPT to create human-like text, or tools such as DALL-E 2 to generate images and videos on demand based on a given prompt. We know NLP has the ability to analyze, interpret and transform human text and speech, from real-time translation and sentiment analysis, to creating keyword summaries or highlighting points of action — but what are the use cases beyond that in corporate training?

The Role of NLP in Corporate Training

NLP technology lays the groundwork for automation and personalization, but it does so in a way that is labor-light and easy to execute. For instance, one of the key advantages of NLP in the field of corporate training might be its ability to analyze employee feedback and identify areas where training can be tailored to meet specific needs. By analyzing the language used by employees when discussing training materials, NLP algorithms can help trainers understand which topics or concepts are most relevant and which ones require further clarification. This information can then be used to adjust training materials so that they are more targeted and relevant, and to design follow-up training sessions that address any gaps or misunderstandings. This is work that, if orchestrated manually, would use considerable resources and would be unfeasible for the majority of businesses, leaving their training programs largely lagging.

Another key use case for NLP in corporate training is the facilitation of the training itself. Collaboration in corporate training can be improved through enhanced communication and understanding, driven by NLP technology. For instance, NLP could be used to actively monitor interactions between employees during training sessions to highlight where more input or guidance might be needed. NLP can also translate training materials in real-time, removing language barriers that might put some employees at a disadvantage if the materials haven’t been created with their native language in mind. Automated chatbots can also be created to answer employee queries during training seminars, reducing interruptions and giving trainees access to a wealth of relevant, personalized information on a given topic.

What’s more, thanks to NLP, the days of “one-size-fits-all” training programs are no more. Training programs can be highly personalized for each individual learner based on their level of knowledge and their specific needs, providing trainers are on hand verify that the content is credible and fits company-specific requirements.

The rise of NLP technology has opened up a world of possibilities in the realm of corporate training. With the ability to analyze employee feedback and tailor training content to meet specific needs, NLP has the potential to revolutionize the way companies approach employee development. When choosing a learning management system provider, companies should take this transformational potential into account if they want their workforce to fulfill its potential and keep pace with the competition in the coming years and decades.