Let’s Get This Out of The Way First.
Using AI tools in your creative process isn’t cheating. Not when you use it the smart way. Not when it helps you work faster and better. And definitely not when it keeps your skills sharp in an industry that’s constantly evolving.
Over the past year, I’ve been quietly remixing my workflow by bringing in AI tools not to do my job for me but to help me level up how I do it. I’m a systems thinker at heart. I like structure, clarity, and flow, whether I’m developing a course, editing videos or figuring out to streamline repetitive processes when my workload is at capacity. That’s where AI starts to show up, not as some flashy shortcut but as a creative partner that helps me move quicker and think more strategically. It’s like adding a turbo boost to the parts of my process that used to slow me down.
Here’s a peek behind the curtain: my standard workflow broken down into five key phases with the AI tools that are helping me keep things smooth, smart and just a little more fun. NOTE: I sometimes have to work with proprietary and confidential information so this requires company-approved tools or simply removing tools from the process. But this process is my starter, and I hope it helps you the way it helps me.
Research & Discovery
Before I even write a single word of learning content, I use tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot to speed up the research process. I still validate everything. I don’t blindly use AI results, but the time savings is huge. It helps by giving me a structural starting point, exploring new topics, and making sense of unique, complex concepts.
Creative Writing, Storyboarding and Scripting
Once the structure of the course is outlined, I turn to Notion AI, MaxAI, and again, ChatGPT to help me think through tone, audience, and pacing. For creative writing endeavors, I like play around with tools like Sudowite, Squibler, or AutoCrit. This is about having a creative partner in the room who doesn’t get tired.
Design & Asset Creation
Whether I’m working on slide decks, characters, or interactive visuals, tools like Leonardo.ai, Adobe Firefly, and Sora are in the mix. They let me explore different graphic styles, generate quick prototypes, and spark inspiration that might lead me in other directions. This is nowhere near a good replacement for human designers, but working with limited resources, simpler graphics that won’t require much, and early concepts, and at the least, they’re lightning in a bottle.
Course Development
This is where it all comes together. I use both Articulate Storyline and RISE (both AI-enabled) to build interactive modules and tap tools like Synthesia for avatar narration and WellSaid or ElevenLabs for realistic AI voiceovers. These tools reduce production time and help me focus more on the learner experience than the logistics.
Testing & Deployment
Before a course launches, I use ChatGPT as a QA assistant (yes, even for scenario testing), and I’m even looking at AI-driven feedback tools like UserTesting to catch gaps in comprehension.
So what’s the bottom line?
There are so many AI tools that do so many things that you can use in so many ways for so many different projects. Everyone has areas in their workflow where they aren’t as efficient. AI can help you leap over those hurdles quickly to make your workflow easier.
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AI isn’t here to do your job for you. It’s here to supercharge your abilities if you use it responsibly.
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Don’t post AI-written content as your own. That’s not just unethical, it’s a missed opportunity to make it better with your unique voice.
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Let AI be the co-pilot. Let it structure your thoughts. Let it give you inspiration so you can focus on higher-level stuff like creative problem-solving and building smarter experiences
It’s looking pretty clear that the future of content development is AI-augmented. If you’re not exploring how to integrate these tools, you might not just be falling behind, you might be missing out. If you’re curious about how to get started or want to swap ideas and tools, I’d love to connect. I’m not an expert, but I believe I’m off to a good start.
