It’s been interesting to watch the shift over time.
For years, I sensed that people were going to YouTube to learn. Training. Education. Tutorials. How-to answers.
We have put forward the notion that many people learn better “visually,” and I bought into that idea too.
Until recently.
I am finding that I am going to AI — ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Grok — more and more for that same kind of learning. While I still use AI for text-based conversations, I am also finding that it is a powerful tool for interactive learning.
I started talking with ChatGPT by voice while driving in 2024. Long conversations while heading down the road. Conversations about all sorts of topics.
Engaging.
And learning.
And just this evening, I realized that I am now going to AI for text-based learning as well. “How do I…” has become a regular question. And I appreciate the straightforward answers.
I don’t sit and consume. I don’t have to wade through personality, pitches, attempts at humor, or a long setup before getting to the point.
I get “the stuff” presented in a way that lets me move forward quickly and easily.
That does not mean video is going away. Sometimes I still need to see something done. But more and more, when I want to understand something, think through something, or ask follow-up questions, AI is becoming my first stop.
Maybe the real shift is not from YouTube to AI.
Maybe the real shift is from passive learning to interactive learning.