We’re in a pivotal moment for learning and development. But is the industry ready for what comes next?

In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt sits down with Donald Taylor to unpack the latest findings from the Global Sentiment Survey, one of the longest-running studies tracking trends in L&D, which he co-authored.

With nearly 3,800 responses from over 100 countries, this year’s survey reveals how the conversation around AI is changing. The rapid rise hasn’t stopped, but it has slowed, and what’s emerging in its place is quite complex.

AI still leads as the top trend, but the conversation is shifting. Concerns around job security, ethics, and long-term impact are becoming harder to ignore, while the pressure to prove value is rising fast. At the same time, areas like learning analytics are starting to slip.

Throughout the discussion, Matt and Donald unpack what’s driving both the excitement and the uncertainty, from that growing need to demonstrate impact, to why some of the most traditionally important areas are also the ones being left behind.

They also dig into what this moment means in practice. Not just how AI is being used day to day, but how it’s starting to reshape the role of L&D itself.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 00:35 - Intro
• 00:35 - 01:40 - What is the Global Sentiment Survey?
• 01:40 - 02:46 - Why the rise of AI is starting to slow down
• 02:46 - 04:27 - Rising survey annual response rates and what they tell us
• 04:27 - 06:52 - How AI in L&D is currently being used
• 06:52 - 10:09 - AI in L&D: the drivers behind industry pushback and excitement
• 10:09 - 13:43 - How priorities in L&D are changing
• 13:43 - 15:33 - The rising pressure on professionals
• 15:33 - 18:57 - Marketing in L&D and predictions of a data-driven future
• 18:57 - 21:13 - Why “showing value” is paramount today
• 21:13 - 24:52 - The core groups of respondents for the Global Sentiment Survey
• 24:52 - 26:29 - Next steps and future plans for the Global Sentiment Survey
• 26:29 - 27:28 - Tracking global trends within the L&D industry
• 27:28 - 31:20 - Navigating emerging industry shifts
• 31:20 - 32:20 - Donald’s final take
• 32:20 - 33:05 Matt’s outro

Important links and mentions:

• Connect with Donald Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldhtaylor/
• Visit Donald Taylor’s website: https://www.donaldhtaylor.co.uk
• Check out the 2026 Global Sentiment Survey Report: https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/research_base/global-sentiment-survey-2026/

What if video could shave 20 minutes off your leadership meetings and help your team come prepared with the right questions?

In this episode, Matt sits down with Chris King, Principal Consultant at CRK Learning LLC, to explore how project managers working in L&D can use video to communicate more effectively.

Chris manages a multimillion-dollar e-learning project with a team of around 25 people, and he’s found that recording video walkthroughs of spreadsheets, creating how-to videos for SMEs, and sharing quick video updates in place of emails can transform how a project runs.

The conversation covers Chris’s take on the three core types of PM communication, the tools he relies on day-to-day, and why working with the right team matters as much as having the right process.

Chris also shares his thoughts on using visuals in presentations, why he prefers icons and process flows over cinematic imagery, and what the future of AI-driven video could look like in learning experiences.

Learning points from the episode include:

1. 00:00 – 00:48 Introduction
2. 00:48 – 01:27 Chris’s background and PMP certification
3. 01:27 – 03:12 Being a ‘gist person’ as a project manager
4. 03:12 – 05:41 The three types of project management communication
5. 05:41 – 07:07 Chris' preferred tools: ClickUp, Excel, PowerPoint, and Slack
6. 07:07 – 09:05 Using video for project reports and leadership meetings
7. 09:05 – 10:42 Using video to onboard subject matter experts
8. 10:42 – 12:55 How teams respond to video communication
9. 12:55 – 16:16 Visuals in presentations, AI image generation, and Chris’s visual style
10. 16:16 – 18:07 Experimenting with AI video in practice modules
11. 18:07 – 20:39 Using video like an email and advice for the hesitant
12. 20:39 – 23:13 Speed round
13. 23:13 – 24:03 How to connect with Chris
14. 24:03 – 24:23 Chris’s final take
15. 24:23 Outro

Important links and mentions:

1. Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kingpin/
2. Learn more about Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/
3. Explore Snagit: https://www.techsmith.com/snagit/
4. Learn more about Audiate: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/audiate/

How can you use the cognitive properties of media for the best training and learning outcomes?

Whether you’re in training, in learning development, or you’re a creator making videos for your own YouTube channel, learning and understanding are non-negotiable.

This idea especially rings true in an age when people consume media across an ever-expanding variety of channels. How do you hold their attention? How do you present information in a way that people truly understand?

Dr Clark Quinn, PHD provides learning experiences and design strategies to corporations, higher education institutions, government, and not-for-profit organizations. In this revisited episode of The Visual Lounge, he dives deep into cognitive media and how to create meaningful learning experiences.

He also talks about how to transpose your knowledge into the media you make, and why creating video for video’s sake rarely achieves the best outcomes.

Join us (or rejoin us) for a greater understanding of how to integrate thinking and learning with technology to improve organizational execution, innovation and, of course, performance.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 01:10 Dr Quinn’s perspective on cognitive science
• 01:10 - 03:09 Matt’s intro
• 03:09 - 04:33 When and when not to use video for the best outcomes
• 04:33 - 06:19 Making media choices that communicate your story in the best compelling way
• 06:19 - 11:04 Understanding and applying dynamic and static cognitive properties
• 11:04 - 16:08 Improving learning outcomes by giving context and examples
• 16:08 - 20:57 Should you use video templates that can be repurposed?
• 20:57 - 25:11 Other things to know and consider about cognitive properties
• 25:11 - 28:55 How to iterate what you’ve created effectively
• 28:55 - 33:16 Speed round questions
• 33:16 - 36:52 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Check out Dr Clark Quinn’s website: https://www.quinnovation.com
• Follow Clark’s blog: https://blog.learnlets.com
• Connect with Clark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinnovator/