Why Skilljar isn’t calling itself an "AI-powered" anything

Edited by: Caroline Van Dyke, Head of Content @ Skilljar & Reviewed by: Tammy Hahn, SVP of Product @ Skilljar 

Words matter.  

Every now and then, a new technology comes along and changes everything. Mobile did it. Social media did it. And now AI is having its moment. 

But just like any “transformative” (yes, a newfound buzzword) technology, there’s a rush to rebrand roadmaps, pitch decks, and websites with the term. Suddenly, every tool is “AI-powered,” “AI-first,” or “AI-native.”

Here’s the challenge: while some tools truly are AI-native, many simply layer on small AI features and market them as revolutionary. We know first-hand this has created confusion for buyers trying to understand what AI can realistically do for their workflows—and what will actually make an impact.

So, what happens next?

At Skilljar, we know AI has massive promise, but we’re approaching it thoughtfully. We’re not here to call ourselves “THE AI LMS” because we believe AI works best when it’s embedded where it’s needed, in the way our customers want to use it. 

That means partnering with the best AI tools, integrating their tech into Skilljar, and listening closely to what our customers need—so AI fits into their workflows, not the other way around.

As Tammy, our SVP of Product, says:

“The best AI doesn’t force you to change your process. It fits seamlessly into how you’re already working and actually makes your life easier, not harder.”

Why We’re Not an “AI LMS”

Our customers rely on us for more than AI. They come to Skilljar for their full learning experience—rooted in proving the impact of their programs. While AI is one part of our strategy, it’s not the whole story—and we’re focused on delivering meaningful improvements across the board.

Here’s what we’ve learned: most CE and CS teams don’t need or want an entirely AI-driven platform. They want pinpoint AI solutions that integrate fluidly into trusted systems they already use, helping them solve specific problems without disrupting their workflows.

That’s why our 2025 AI strategy has two key areas of focus: 

1. Partnering with specialized tools to bring best-in-class AI capabilities to Skilljar.
2. Embedding AI thoughtfully into our platform in ways that make learning smarter, more impactful, and easier to manage. 

Here’s a look at what the future could look like for each bucket:

#1 Content Creation: Why We’re Taking the Partnership Route

AI content creation is an exciting space, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Based on our research and conversations with customers, here’s what we’ve learned:

1. AI content isn’t “publish-ready.”
   Many customers agree that AI is great for drafting outlines, transcribing videos, or generating quiz questions—but not for delivering polished, customer-ready outputs, especially for technical products.
2. It works best for narrow use cases.
   AI shines in tasks like summarizing content, creating first drafts, or generating video voiceovers and transcriptions. For now, these specific workflows are where AI is most effective.

In a recent product round-table, we heard common feedback—notably from two SaaS leaders:

“AI fits best as an early input, but still requires a human in the loop to bring it to the finish line. Too many people are quick to copy, paste, and publish AI outputs—and it often misses the mark on accuracy and quality.”

“AI has been incredibly helpful for streamlining workflows like video voiceovers and transcriptions. It saves time without sacrificing the clarity and polish I always aim for.”

Rather than building content creation tools natively, we’re partnering with innovators like LearnExperts, Parta, and Synthesia—companies that specialize in these workflows. This allows us to focus on delivering smarter analytics, extensible content, and better reporting, while giving customers access to the best AI tools available.

#2 Embedding AI Where It Matters

AI works best when it removes friction—when it helps people focus on what matters instead of getting lost in reports, manual updates, or time-consuming admin work. 

That’s where we see the biggest opportunity: embedding AI into Skilljar to streamline workflows, surface insights, and make learning more intuitive—without adding complexity.

Here’s how we’re thinking about it:

• Less Manual Reporting, Natural Language Questions
  Imagine knowing exactly where learners are dropping off in a course or certification path—without digging through reports. AI could flag engagement trends and recommend optimizations. Admins could type in a simple question —“Which courses drive the highest retention?” or “What training is most effective for onboarding?”—and get meaningful, data-driven answers instantly.
• Intelligent Course Tagging & Search Optimization
  Instead of manually applying tags (and trying to remember all the variations admins might use), AI could auto-tag courses based on content, making training easier to find. It could also analyze search terms and update tags dynamically based on how learners are actually looking for content.
• Built-In Workflow Recommendations
  Publishing a new course? AI could suggest optimizations before launch—flagging if a video is too long, reminding admins to set up engagement emails, or even suggesting the right learning path placement.

A Look Back at Our AI Journey Thus Far

So, how did we land on our approach to AI in 2025? When ChatGPT launched, we—like many software companies—experimented with AI to deliver quick wins for our customers. Today, Skilljar AI helps with:

• Generating quiz questions to save teams time.
• Drafting course descriptions (useful but less valuable due to existing tools in most customers’ stacks).
• Creating learning objectives (a “nice-to-have,” but not revolutionary).

What we learned:

• Generating course descriptions resonated strongly with our customers—it’s practical and simplifies tedious tasks. 
• Course objectives and quiz generation, on the other hand, are areas where customers already rely on tools they know and trust. Given course objectives are the fundamental building block of developing any learning curriculum, it’s best to rely on human-first insight, then layer on AI for those former, more tedious tasks. 

The Bottom Line: AI Should Work for You, Not the Other Way Around

AI is an incredible tool, but it’s not the whole toolbox. At Skilljar, we’re focused on using AI thoughtfully—embedding it where it makes a difference, partnering with the best solutions in the market, and, most importantly, listening to our customers.

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