AI is Reshaping Digital Learner Behaviors and Expectations

By Dr. Tekoya Boykins

There’s no doubt that artificial intelligence has already changed how people work, access information, and develop new skills, but it is essential for those of us working in higher education to understand that it is also changing learners’ expectations. Risepoint’s 2026 Voice of the Online Learner report suggests that AI is influencing how learners discover programs, prepare for careers, and evaluate the value of education itself.

The implications for digital learning leaders extend well beyond technology adoption. Learners are not simply looking for access to new tools. They want clear, practical guidance on how AI fits into their education, careers, and future professions.

Learners are Using AI Long Before They Enroll

One of the most notable findings was the rapid growth of digital and AI-assisted program discovery. In 2026, the number of learners using an AI website or application while researching schools nearly tripled from the previous year (6% in 2025 to 17% in 2026).
Over that same one-year time period:

• Use of program review websites increased from 11% to 18%
• 57% of learners used self-service tools during program discovery
• 75% say self-service resources are important when evaluating programs

Today’s learners want to compare options, have questions answered, and better understand how programs align with their goals before ever engaging with a person. Like the flexibility they seek in their education, they want experiences designed around the realities of their lives and decision-making processes, not simplified versions of them. As AI becomes part of the discovery process, institutions have an opportunity to create more intentional experiences that provide clarity along the way.

Learners Want Guidance, Not Just Access

The most instructive AI finding in this year’s survey was not about technology use. It was about learner expectations. Seventy-one percent of learners say understanding AI will be important for workplace success (that’s up from 59% in 2024). When asked what support they want from institutions, learners pointed to three priorities:

• Guidance on using AI responsibly and ethically
• Help evaluating the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated information
• Insight into how AI may impact future jobs and required skills

Students are not simply asking for permission to use AI tools. They want clear, practical guidance on how AI can be used responsibly, how it is changing their professions, and what skills they will need in the workplace. The goal is not to keep AI separate from learning but to integrate it in a way that builds judgment, critical thinking, and professional readiness.

AI Readiness is Becoming a Career Readiness Issue

Online learners remain strongly career focused: 95% report pursuing education for career-related outcomes.

As AI reshapes industries, learners increasingly view AI literacy as part of career readiness. This raises the bar for digital learning experiences. Learners need opportunities to practice, apply, and evaluate AI use in ways that are connected to their fields and future workplaces.

Universities are responding. The percentage of learners reporting that instructors regularly discuss appropriate AI use increased from 33% to 46% in one year. Likewise, the share reporting AI integration into curriculum rose from 19% to 33%. The opportunity now is not simply to expose learners to AI tools. It is to help them develop judgment, critical thinking, and professional readiness in an AI-enabled workplace.

AI Can Support More Engaging Course Design

As institutions think about AI preparedness, the conversation extends beyond policies and classroom guidance. It also creates opportunities to design learning experiences that are more engaging, relevant, and adaptable. During a recent WCET webcast, Dr. Marybeth Mitcham, Assistant Professor and Director of the George Mason University’s online MPH program, joined me to share examples of how technology can enhance online learning, including:

• Storytelling that connects theory to professional practice
• Interactive and gamified learning experiences
• More frequent updates to course content as workforce needs evolve
• Real-world scenarios that help students apply what they learn

The goal is not to replace human creativity or critical thinking, but rather to use technology to strengthen learning and help students translate knowledge into workplace readiness.

Human Connection Still Matters

Despite growing interest in AI, learners continue to value the human elements of education. While 71% of enrolled learners prefer asynchronous learning when given the option, many still want opportunities for engagement.

• 71% want at least some synchronous interaction
• 81% would like to visit campus at some point during their educational journey

These findings reinforce an important lesson for digital learning leaders: technology and human connection are not competing priorities. The future of digital learning will be shaped by how effectively institutions combine flexibility, workforce relevance, AI preparedness, and meaningful human engagement. Digital learning leaders have the opportunity to help students develop judgment, critical thinking, and professional readiness while strengthening an institution’s role as a trusted guide in an AI-enabled world.

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