Nearly 43% of learning and development (L&D) leaders believe that AI could entirely replace their roles, with another 40% anticipating some changes caused by AI, according to LearnUpon’s “State of Learning and Development Report.” Only 3% expected AI to cause no changes, signaling a major shift in how learning will be designed, delivered, and measured.
“Today, L&D leaders are being asked to do much more than just onboard new hires or fill knowledge gaps. Effective learning programs are now an opportunity to reshape the employee experience, drive performance, and create a greater sense of stability across the business,” says Brendan Noud, CEO and co-founder of LearnUpon. “Progress comes from making the right moves in the right order, investing in your team’s skills and agility, choosing technology that truly works together, and measuring what matters for better buy-in. Do that, and today’s constraints quickly turn into tomorrow’s advantages for employees, leaders, and the business.”
However, despite these fears, L&D leaders' priorities span beyond AI.
Key takeaways:
· The top trends for 2025 were identified as integrating L&D with overall business strategy (36%), the rise of learning ecosystems (34%), and data-driven decision-making (34%). There has been a discernible shift in perspectives on the key drivers of learning and development, with employee well-being and mental health (44%) emerging as the most impactful factor shaping programs this year, followed closely by AI-powered learning (42%) and microlearning formats (42%), reflecting a strong shift toward flexible, personalized, and sustainable learning experiences.
- 43% of learning leaders believe AI could replace their role entirely, with sectors such as retail, education, software, and technology feeling this threat the greatest. To balance AI and the human experience, L&D teams are building AI literacy, centering AI’s role in learning, and focusing on enablement versus elimination.
- 84% of respondents and 70% in the UK reported a budget increase in 2025, with the U.S. (66%) not far behind.
- More than nine in 10 L&D leaders (91%) say they measure program impact effectively, and nearly half (44%) feel very confident in their approach. Additionally, whilst many teams are still monitoring traditional metrics like completion rates (34%) and learner satisfaction (30%), an equal share (34%) now prioritize “bigger picture” metrics like skill development and knowledge retention, signaling a shift toward tracking deeper, business-aligned outcomes.
- Top skills critical to the year ahead include data analytics and reporting (56%), AI and machine learning in L&D (53%), change management and leadership (52%), and learning technology expertise (51%).
- L&D teams continue to face challenges such as talent acquisition and retention (32%), keeping pace with change, particularly around AI (31%), and aligning L&D with business strategy (30%). Measuring ROI of L&D and demonstrating the impact of L&D programs also remain concerns for 30% and 29% of leaders, respectively, underscoring the need for sharper strategies, smarter tools, and closer business alignment.
