How AI and VR are shaping the future of interactive learning

Artificial intelligence (AI) is helping to make virtual reality (VR) learning experiences even more immersive, interactive and adaptive.

Leveraging AI-integrated learning platforms, organisations are creating new 3D environments, avatars, objects and even storylines – tailored to each learner's needs and preferences. This means that no two virtual reality (VR) experiences are ever identical. Instead, generative AI personalises training scenarios, creating real-time conversations that test technical skills and deepen soft skills in new ways.

Here are some of the ways that organisations are leveraging AI and VR to create effective learning and development.

Unlocking more interactive learning experiences through AI and VR

VR environments embedded with AI can respond to employees' presence, generating live responses based on the learner's prompts. Rather than static storylines or set responses, this approach unlocks more interactive AI learning experiences – encouraging people to continue practising.

Immersive learning in VR encourages active learning, in which students are more experientially involved in the learning process. But VR with AI deepens this approach even further.

For example, MTA Metro-North Railroad – one of the busiest commuter lines in the US – is already using VR for train approach warning and "angry customer" training, developing employees' hard and soft skills in risk-free settings. It's now exploring how AI and VR could be used for its train traffic controller simulators, creating even more immersive experiences tailored to the individual.

Through AI integration with VR training solution Uptale, Metro-North Railroad can also program conversations and provide live feedback for its soft skills training. "Our employees could have customer interactions with a 3D avatar", says Lorne Lieb, Assistant Director of Interactive & Program Development, Operations Training at MTA Metro-North Railroad. "There could be real-time responses through AI, unlocking real-time training."

Likewise, nursing education institution Nightingale College is utilising AI and VR training for undergraduates. Delivered via Meta Quest headsets, its platform enables trainee nurses to interact with patients designed with AI. Alongside full-time nurses, faculty members build patient profiles. These are then tweaked across parameters, such as diagnosis, dialect, personality and beliefs.

"It means that every time our students interact with a patient in a VR training scenario, it's incredibly realistic", says Nate Creer, Director, Academic & Innovative Technology at Nightingale Education Group. "Every single patient in a training scenario is different every time. AI responds to how each question is asked and phrased differently – helping to develop students' soft skills and deepen patient empathy."

How AI avatars and VR are creating the future of work

VR is already enabling teams to collaborate in interactive, immersive virtual spaces around the world. Through avatars, employees can meet in a live virtual space – helping teams to connect and collaborate as if they're really together. This is only strengthened by AI. Language barriers can be overcome with real-time automated translation. Participants can co-create using shared AI-generated content.

Blending VR with AI unlocks deeper immersion and interactivity for employees. Real-time conversations are particularly useful for soft skills training. Employees can practise scenarios on their Meta Quest headsets as much as they like. And, thanks to generative AI, no two conversations will ever be the same.

Many VR learning platforms include avatars, generated and animated by AI, to create deeper, more interactive learning experiences. The likes of 3spin Learning and ThingLink allow organisations to create immersive VR and AI training courses without any programming knowledge. Bodyswaps' AI and VR simulations teach soft skills around communication, employability and leadership to higher education and healthcare students. Talespin uses AI-driven avatars and adaptive learning scenarios for workplace skills, including negotiation, leadership and problem-solving.

AI-assisted content creation eases resources, too – lengthy in-person onboarding and workshops can be delivered on-demand via Meta Quest headsets, freeing up instructors' and managers' schedules.

Creating new education experiences through AI

AI-driven VR education experiences are also being seen in the classroom.

For example, teachers can create AI avatars on the educational VR platform ENGAGE. They can then interact verbally with students on immersive field trips, lab simulations or historical reenactments – all created through AI, bringing lessons to life. Furthermore, AI characters can act as tutors, guides or even historical figures – from Alexander the Great to George Washington.

Whether in the workplace, hospital or classroom, generative AI adds another layer to VR training, bringing communication, empathy and leadership scenarios to life. The benefits can be seen across an organisation. From sales (learning effective negotiation skills) to customer service (dealing with complaints) or management (giving feedback) – users can practise unique AI-driven experiences in VR again and again, whenever and wherever.

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Keep reading about working in virtual reality (VR):

What is the best VR headset for work?
Four companies using VR/MR in healthcare
Six innovations shaping the future of work