The ATD-Published Guide to AI for L&D Professionals — From Lodestone Digital

The definitive resource our organization set out to create — taking L&D professionals from understanding AI to implementing it across platforms, content development, prompt design, workflow automation, and autonomous agents. Authored by our founder, Josh Cavalier, drawing on over three decades of practitioner experience. Published by ATD.

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Preview the Chapter Breakdown

If You Work in L&D and AI Feels Like a Moving Target — This Is Your Map

You don’t have time to read another AI book that was written for engineers. Or one that tells you AI is “transformative” without showing you what to do about it on Monday morning.

This book was developed for you — the instructional designer, the learning architect, the talent development director, the CLO — who needs a practical, comprehensive, L&D-specific guide to navigating the AI landscape. Not a snapshot of one tool at one moment. A complete framework for integrating AI across your entire function. It reflects the same methodology our team at Lodestone Digital applies when advising enterprise L&D organizations on AI adoption.

This Book Is For You If

No prior AI experience required. Chapter 1 builds the foundation. By Chapter 10, you’re designing autonomous agents.

The AI Conversation Is Moving Fast. The L&D Profession Needs a Definitive Guide.

Right now, L&D professionals are learning about AI from:

None of these provide the complete picture. None of them connect AI literacy to AI strategy to AI implementation within the specific context of Learning & Development.

This book does.

It is the reference you’ll keep on your desk — the one you turn to when you need to evaluate a new platform, design a prompt strategy, build an automation workflow, or present an AI roadmap to leadership. Our approach doesn’t chase the tool of the week. It delivers frameworks that hold up regardless of which tools come and go.

10 Chapters. The Complete AI Landscape for L&D.

Each chapter builds on the last — from foundational understanding to advanced implementation. Together, they form a complete playbook for integrating AI into every dimension of the L&D function. The methodology presented here has been refined through our team’s consulting engagements, enterprise workshops, and the ATD Certificate program.

Understanding The Landscape

Platforms and Tools

Building and Implementing

Why This Book and Why Now

About The

Author

Josh Cavalier is the founder and Chief Learning Strategist of Lodestone Digital, headquartered in Charlotte, NC. Our founder and Chief Learning Strategist, Josh Cavalier, brings over three decades of experience in Learning & Development, having designed solutions for corporations, government agencies, and educational institutions throughout his career.

Josh serves as the lead facilitator of the ATD Applying AI in Learning & Development Certificate program. He has presented at DevLearn, ATD ICE, Learning Solutions, TechKnowledge, NAB, and Adobe MAX. He hosts Brainpower, a weekly AI training show on YouTube and LinkedIn produced by our media team. And he coined the term Human-Machine Performance Analyst™ to describe the role L&D professionals are evolving into.

This book represents the culmination of three decades of L&D practice and years of focused organizational research at the intersection of AI and talent development. It is the authoritative expression of the methodology our team applies every day with enterprise clients.

Learn more about Josh and Lodestone Digital