Are eLearning Authoring Tools Dead? AI, Vibe Coding & the Future of Instructional Design
#eLearning #InstructionalDesign #LearningAndDevelopment
Are eLearning authoring tools like Articulate Storyline, Rise, and others becoming obsolete?
With the rise of AI, vibe coding, and tools that can generate entire learning experiences from a prompt, it’s a fair question to ask…
Do we even need traditional eLearning authoring tools anymore?
In this conversation, I sit down with Mel Milloway to unpack what’s really happening in the industry right now. We go beyond the hype and explore the reality of using AI and vibe coding in real-world learning and development teams.
We talk about:
Whether eLearning authoring tools are actually “dying”
How vibe coding is changing eLearning development
The risks of AI-generated training (tech debt, scalability, governance)
Why business continuity and editability still matter
The difference between a cool demo and a real solution
How AI is reshaping instructional design workflows
Why foundational instructional design skills matter more than ever
Because here’s the truth: This isn’t really a tools conversation. It’s a conversation about how we think as instructional designers.
It’s about understanding performance problems, making intentional design decisions, and knowing when AI actually helps…versus when it just creates more noise.
So whether you’re new to instructional design, working in learning and development, or trying to understand how AI is impacting eLearning development, this conversation will help you cut through the hype.
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If this resonates with you and you want to strengthen your instructional design skills in a real-world, practical way, check out my Instructional Design Certificate Program.
It’s an 8-week, live, virtual experience where you’ll learn how to:
Analyze performance problems
Design effective learning solutions
Work with stakeholders and SMEs
Apply AI in practical, meaningful ways
🔗 Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4cugk7X
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Follow The eLearning Designer’s Academy:
🔗 Website: https://elearningacademy.io
🔗 LinkedIn: / elearningacdmy
Follow Tim Slade:
🔗 LinkedIn: / sladetim
Follow Mel Milloway:
🔗 LinkedIn: / melmilloway
🔗 Website: https://melmilloway.github.io/
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Timestamps:
00:00 Are eLearning Authoring Tools Dead?
01:00 Meet Mel Milloway
03:02 AI Hype vs Reality in Learning Design
05:59 Side Quest: Gaming & Creativity
07:29 Vibe Coding vs Authoring Tools
09:04 Real Use Cases for Vibe Coding
10:04 Business Continuity & Scalability
14:07 Novelty vs Usefulness in eLearning
16:46 LinkedIn vs Real-World L&D Work
18:42 AI-Powered Learning Simulation Demo
22:05 Using AI Agents to Test Training
25:22 QA, Feedback & Improving Learning Design
25:54 AI Still Requires Real Work
27:42 Tech Debt & Long-Term Risk
30:33 Why Instructional Design Skills Still Matter
33:11 Performative AI in Organizations
36:16 Choosing the Right Tool (AI vs Traditional)
38:15 Why “One-Click” Isn’t Real Value
41:23 AI Skepticism & Industry Concerns
45:03 AI Hype vs Actual Capability
47:49 Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up
#AI #VibeCoding