AI is the New Operating System for Learning & Work: Key Insights from GSV Ventures & Disco

AI isn’t just enhancing learning – it’s completely rewiring how knowledge is created, shared, and applied in the workplace. Our Co-Founder Candice Faktor sat down with Deborah Quazzo, Managing Partner at GSV Ventures, and Claire Zau, Partner and AI Lead at GSV Ventures, to unpack how AI is driving massive shifts in education and workforce development.

The big takeaway? AI isn’t a feature – it’s becoming the operating system of modern learning.

6 AI-Powered Shifts Reshaping Learning & Work

1. AI Is Moving Beyond Chatbots to Multimodal Intelligence

• Chatbot fatigue is real. AI-powered learning is evolving beyond simple text-based interactions into multimodal, dynamic experiences — integrating video, voice, and real-time feedback.
• AI-powered video (including tools like Synthesia and HeyGen) is scaling personalized content creation, allowing learning businesses to generate high-quality courses at a fraction of the cost.
• AI-driven assessments are becoming more real-time and embedded. From Gong in sales coaching to Squint in retail training, AI is transforming how skills are taught in the moment, not just after the fact.

2. AI Agents & Automation Are Reshaping Learning Operations

• AI isn’t just improving how we learn — it’s revolutionizing how learning businesses operate.
• Claire highlighted Klarna’s 90% cost reduction in customer service through AI automation — a signal for learning businesses looking to streamline content generation, assessments, and engagement.
• Disco customers are leveraging AI to automate course creation, personalize learning paths, and optimize operations, reducing admin overhead and increasing impact.

3. AI as the "Second Brain": No More Knowledge Loss

• AI preserves and applies institutional knowledge, acting as an ever-learning system rather than relying solely on human memory.
• Instead of static knowledge repositories, AI-driven platforms provide continuous, contextual learning, ensuring skills and expertise are not lost when employees leave.
• AI-powered tools like Chorus for sales teams show how AI can observe, analyze, and coach in real time — turning learning into action.

4. The New Learning Economy: AI-Driven Scale & Profitability

• AI is fundamentally changing the cost structure of learning businesses, enabling higher margins, lower costs, and scalable personalization.
• Claire and Deborah pointed to PW (PhysicsWallah)’s AI-driven model, where tens of thousands of students receive personalized learning at scale—a glimpse into the future of AI-powered education businesses.
• The next 2-4 years will define how learning businesses unlock profitability with AI, moving beyond experimentation into fully operational AI-first models.

5. Next-Gen Learners Expect AI-Powered Learning Experiences

Today's workforce expects learning that is:

• Personalized & Adaptive – AI-driven recommendations based on real-time performance
• Conversational & Interactive – No more passive learning — learners want intelligent, engaging experiences
• Seamlessly Integrated – Learning tools that sync with workflows, not disrupt them
• Data-Driven & Real-Time – AI-powered assessments that adapt on the fly rather than waiting for performance reviews

What’s Next: AI’s Second-Order Effects on Learning & Work

As we look ahead, AI isn’t just another tool — it’s transforming how organizations structure work itself. At ASU+GSV Summit, expect big discussions around:

• AI’s role in cognitive work & decision-making – What happens when AI handles execution and humans become strategists?
• AI-powered agents in the workforce – Will organizations need “AI supervisors” to manage an agentic workforce?
• The rise of AI-driven organizational design – How do businesses build workflows for a world where AI executes, not just assists?

As Claire put it, AI is no longer just about intelligence — it’s about impact.

The future belongs to organizations that don’t just adopt AI, but integrate it seamlessly into learning, knowledge sharing, and workforce enablement.

Want to stay ahead? Sign up for Claire Zau’s AI + Education newsletter on Substack and discover what the future of learning looks like at this year’s ASU+GSV summit in April.