3 Insights from L&D Leaders at the ATD New England Area Conference

Landon shares his perspective on the ATD New England Area Conference, where Interpro connected with Learning and Development (L&D) professionals, showcased our translation expertise, and explored how AI is reshaping learning design. From face-to-face client meetings to insights on when AI makes sense in translation, the event reinforced the value of human connection and strategic innovation in the learning and localization space.

Meeting Learning Leaders at ATD New England

Interpro had a great opportunity to connect with many incredible, forward thinking individuals at the  New England ATD Area Conference in Sturbridge, MA. Interpro’s CEO, Nick, flew into Boston, bringing in a little Windy City flavor to the region and the event proved to be a rewarding experience. 

Connecting with clients, fellow exhibitors, and passionate attendees who are shaping the future of L&D was more than enough motivation to make the trip. Sturbridge, with its colonial charm and rustic character, added a unique backdrop to the experience. The town certainly provides a sense of grit and resilience that echoed the spirit of the conference itself. 

3 Insights from L&D Leaders

The morning kicked off with a buzz as attendees dashed from one session to the next, eager to soak up insights and connect with peers. The energy was contagious, and it was inspiring to see so many professionals committed to growth and innovation. At our booth, we had engaging conversations with attendees and fellow exhibitors who were genuinely curious about Interpro’s translation capabilities

ATD New England was buzzing with energy and connection. It was especially meaningful to meet one of our eLearning developer clients in person and strengthen that relationship beyond the typical virtual meetings. 

We also had a surprise encounter with an eLearning developer from a partner organization, serving proof that the learning community is smaller and more interconnected than we sometimes realize. 

There are three FAQs that frequently stand out among our recent discussions with L&D teams:

1. How are learning teams evaluating when to apply AI versus human expertise in their localization workflows?

Interpro’s perspective: Learning teams are assessing project goals, audience impact, and content sensitivity to determine when AI translation can be leveraged efficiently versus when human expertise is required for cultural accuracy and tone. Interpro is generally part of these discussions running experiments in the background with our tools and experts. This allows us to make recommendations when to use AI and when to skip it through an initial content analysis and consultative review.

2. What safeguards or quality controls are L&D leaders putting in place to ensure translated learning content still meets compliance and learner-impact standards?

Interpro’s perspective: Leaders are integrating human review and linguistic QA into every AI-assisted workflow, ensuring compliance-critical materials maintain clarity, accuracy, and inclusivity. Interpro’s ISO-certified processes automatically add a structured layer of validation to protect quality at every stage, so the impact on our clients is minimal – just faster turnaround times and reduced costs.

3. As AI tools evolve, how can organizations balance speed and innovation with the cultural nuance and accuracy their learners expect?

Interpro’s perspective: Many leaders are finding success by adopting hybrid models by:

1. determining that sometimes human translation is the only way to go for legal and compliance materials, but other materials like technical manuals for operations are perfectly fine for AI translation. 
2. combining every AI translation with expert human refinement. This balance allows for faster deployment without compromising cultural integrity or learner experience.

By the way, if you want to continue to learn about Interpro’s perspective, sign up for Interpro Insights here. 

Landon Amaral engages in a conversation at the Interpro booth, sharing how strategic translation solutions support today’s L&D goals.

Spotlight Session: AI in Learning Design

One of the standout sessions I attended was “Streamline Learning Design with AI,” presented by Jason Van Orden, a seasoned digital entrepreneur and learning strategist. Having spent years collaborating with contract eLearning developers and instructional design consultants, I found the discussion especially relevant considering the current problems developers face.

Participant insight in this session was full of ideas and sharing challenges in the field like the ever-elusive “Where is my SME?” and toolkit suggestions and where to apply them. 

What really struck me was how AI is shifting from being a perceived threat to a powerful ally. 

The room was buzzing with ideas as participants compared platforms like Gemini, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Claude, each offering unique strengths in content generation, workflow automation, and learner personalization. It was an energizing conversation that underscored how AI is reshaping the learning game.

Artificial Intelligence has made significant strides in the translation space, and Interpro has embraced its potential while maintaining a thoughtful, and strategic approach, and always having a human element present. 

For many clients, AI translation offers an attractive solution to reduce costs and accelerate turnaround times, especially for high-volume or time-sensitive projects. 

However, we also recognize that not all content is created equal. There is a lot to learn about AI translation before getting started.

Depending on the subject matter, the level of impact you want to achieve, and the nuances of certain languages, AI may not be the best fit. 

That’s where Interpro’s consultative expertise comes in. We guide our clients to the right translation destination, balancing innovation with precision to ensure the final product is both effective and culturally accurate.

A Final Reflection: Why Interpro Shows Up

Our time at ATD New England left us grateful for the opportunity to connect with such a dynamic and passionate network. From talented consultants specializing in every corner of learning and development to innovative learning platforms designed for today’s corporate challenges, the event was a showcase of excellence. We walked away inspired, knowing that whether teams that are large or small, based onshore or across the globe, organizations continue to prioritize learning by leveraging translation solutions to support their multilingual workforce. It was a powerful reminder of the role we play in helping learning reach everyone, everywhere.

Need expert support growing your multilingual communications? Let’s get started.

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Consulting • Translation • eLearning • Video & Multimedia • Document