AI is transforming the way we work – and that includes how we train our teams. Whether you’re developing soft skills, onboarding new hires, or delivering compliance training, AI tools like ChatGPT can help L&D teams work faster and more creatively. But knowing where to start is half the challenge.

Why Use ChatGPT in Training Design?

ChatGPT can help you move from a blank page to a structured training plan with ease. It works well for brainstorming, outlining, and writing training content. You can customize prompts to reflect your workplace culture, specific skill needs, and learning styles.

Whether you’re creating compliance training or developing soft skills, ChatGPT can generate drafts, refine ideas, and offer suggestions to support diverse learners.

Here’s how to build out your next employee training program using ChatGPT – and make it something learners actually want to engage with.

How to Design a Training Program with ChatGPT

Step 1: Define the Purpose of Your Program

Start by getting clear on who the training is for and what outcomes you want to achieve. Before you prompt ChatGPT, you need a clear direction. What’s the goal of your training? Who’s the audience? What behaviors or skills should change as a result?

Then, use ChatGPT to help define learner personas, job-specific challenges, and key skills your audience needs to develop.

For example:

• Are you onboarding new employees?
• Improving communication skills for first-time managers?
• Rolling out a new software tool?

Use this information to ask ChatGPT for help with goal-setting or creating a needs assessment. AI in learning and development is most effective when you guide it with specifics.

Prompt Example: “Help me write a learning objective for a training program that teaches new hires how to use our internal project management software.”

Step 2: Build a Program Structure

Once you have a goal, you can ask ChatGPT to help you build the framework. Using AI in L&D planning can help you brainstorm faster and identify gaps you might miss on your own.

Ask ChatGPT to:

• Draft a high-level course outline
• Break the content into modules or lessons
• Recommend delivery formats for different topics (e.g., video, discussion, roleplay)

Prompt Example: “Give me a three-module outline for a soft skills course on delivering constructive feedback in the workplace.”

Step 3: Develop Training Content

This is where generative AI tools like ChatGPT really shine. You can use AI to create training materials like:

• Lesson overviews
• Slide outlines
• Knowledge checks and quiz questions
• Realistic scenarios for roleplay
• Guided discussion questions

If you’re building multiple ChatGPT programs or planning blended learning, AI can help you repurpose content across formats.

Prompt Example: “Write a short roleplay scenario for a manager who needs to give feedback to a disengaged team member.”

Step 4: Choose the Right Content Library for Your Needs

Finding the right content library is a key step in creating an impactful training program. Whether you’re focused on compliance, leadership, soft skills, or technical training, the content you choose needs to be engaging, relevant, and aligned with your goals.

Not sure where to start? ChatGPT can help you explore your options by suggesting content libraries based on your industry, audience, or training needs. You can also use it to:

• Get training topic ideas based on skill gaps, company goals, or employee feedback
• Brainstorm individual lesson topics for specific roles or competencies
• Outline learning paths that guide employees through structured development journeys

Once you’ve selected a content library, look for features that support flexibility and customization. For example:

• Does it offer microlearning, video lessons, or interactive activities?
• Can you easily tailor content with your company’s branding, policies, or terminology?
• Does it support assigning content by job role, skill level, or department?

Choosing a library that balances off-the-shelf content with customization options gives you the best of both worlds—ready-to-use training that still feels personalized. And with ChatGPT’s support, you’ll spend less time stuck in the planning phase and more time launching training that makes an impact.

Step 5: Improve Engagement and Interaction

Don’t stop at delivery – use ChatGPT to enhance the learning experience.

You can ask for:

• Icebreaker questions for live sessions
• Follow-up assignments or reflection prompts
• Email reminders or motivational messages
• Job aids or summaries to reinforce learning

Prompt Example: “Give me three engaging follow-up questions for learners after completing a course on customer service recovery.”

Step 6: Evaluate and Optimize

Looking to improve your next rollout? Ask ChatGPT to help create:

• Pre- and post-training surveys
• Learner feedback forms
• Quiz questions to measure retention

You can even request ideas for how to evaluate impact or report outcomes to stakeholders.

Prompt Example: “Write five questions I can ask managers to evaluate if employees are applying what they learned in a time management course.”

4 Tips to Maximize ChatGPT in Your Design Process

1. Be specific in your prompts. Include role types, learning levels, and desired tone.

2. Treat ChatGPT as a brainstorming partner, not a final editor.

3. Provide context about your organization’s culture and goals to get more tailored responses.

4. Don’t be afraid to iterate – ask for rewrites or variations until it feels right.

Use Cases Beyond Course Design

ChatGPT is useful across many areas of workplace learning.

Try using it to:

• Draft onboarding guides or checklists.
• Refresh compliance training materials.
• Generate internal announcements or promotional content for new courses.
• Build microlearning paths for just-in-time learning.

What to Watch Out For

While ChatGPT is a powerful tool, it still needs a human touch. Always review the content it generates to make sure it aligns with your company’s voice, values, and factual accuracy. ChatGPT is a helpful co-creator, but subject matter experts and instructional designers still play a vital role in finalizing your training.

ChatGPT for L&D

AI in L&D doesn’t have to replace your strategy – it should enhance it. Tools like ChatGPT can help remove creative blocks, speed up design cycles, and enhance the strength and scalability of your training content.

If you’re not sure how to get started, just remember: the more specific your prompt, the better the output. And the more you iterate, the more valuable your ChatGPT corporate tools become.

Whether you’re using AI for learning and development or experimenting with ChatGPT for the first time, you have the potential to design more effective, engaging, and scalable training than ever before.

Need help building your program or choosing the right content? Let’s chat.