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From predictive analytics to personalized learning, AI is rapidly transforming how skills are built—and who gets to build them. Yet even as the learning tech market balloons to nearly 600 vendors, according to RedThread Research, the influence of L&D in strategic discussions is fading.
With tighter budgets and increased pressure to align with growth priorities, HR leaders are being forced to take a hard look at what learning and development is really delivering—and what needs to change.
Research paints a clear picture: L&D must evolve from a support function into a core strategic partner, says RedThread co-founder Dani Johnson. In a fast-moving market fueled by AI and related emerging technologies, ensuring an organization has a skilled workforce has become the primary mandate.
Here are five takeaways from a recent webinar Johnson presented on this topic.
L&D market is ‘big, fast and loud’
The learning technology space has seen explosive growth. Johnson described it as “big, fast and loud”—full of innovation but also crowded and chaotic. Despite ongoing M&A activity, consolidation hasn’t slowed the influx of new players. Many vendors are racing to claim space in AI and skills-based development, making it hard for HR leaders to identify which technologies truly