Designing for Readiness, Not Just Efficiency, in an AI-Augmented World
Tue Feb 03 2026
AI didn’t replace your job—it replaced your value proposition. In this episode, we sit down with Taylor Blake, SVP of AI Labs at Degreed, to talk about the uncomfortable truth facing L&D teams: if your job is framed as delivering content, unblocking employees, or feeding answers in the flow of work, AI is already doing it better, faster, and without your calendar invite.
But where AI stops short is precisely where L&D’s future begins. Taylor shares how her team at Degreed lives as “customer zero,” using their own tools before shipping them to clients—which means they’re embedded in the mess, not just pitching the promise. From readiness over responsiveness to the emotional toll of relentless efficiency, this conversation explores what it really means to build capability in a world where one employee now has the power—and pressure—of ten.
Related Links:
Join the People Managing People CommunitySubscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcastsConnect with Taylor on LinkedInCheck out DegreedSupport the show
More
AI didn’t replace your job—it replaced your value proposition. In this episode, we sit down with Taylor Blake, SVP of AI Labs at Degreed, to talk about the uncomfortable truth facing L&D teams: if your job is framed as delivering content, unblocking employees, or feeding answers in the flow of work, AI is already doing it better, faster, and without your calendar invite. But where AI stops short is precisely where L&D’s future begins. Taylor shares how her team at Degreed lives as “customer zero,” using their own tools before shipping them to clients—which means they’re embedded in the mess, not just pitching the promise. From readiness over responsiveness to the emotional toll of relentless efficiency, this conversation explores what it really means to build capability in a world where one employee now has the power—and pressure—of ten. Related Links: Join the People Managing People CommunitySubscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcastsConnect with Taylor on LinkedInCheck out DegreedSupport the show