Why we urgently need to relearn the way we learn

When was the last time you truly learned something new? Not just memorised a fact, but rewired how you think? For most of us, learning is still defined by classrooms, training sessions and online courses. But that model is no longer fit for purpose – particularly for economies like Scotland’s, where lifelong learning has long been central to resilience and growth.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rewriting the rules. Unlike past inventions – the printing press, electricity, even the internet – AI doesn’t sit passively, waiting for us to master it. It learns with us. It adapts to our corrections, anticipates our needs, and grows alongside us. That means the old ways of learning simply can’t keep up.

This phenomenon is called co-learning. It’s the loop in which humans and AI continuously improve together. Every prompt, every correction, every collaboration sharpens both sides. When a call-centre worker trains with an AI agent that role-plays difficult customers, for example, the employee becomes more empathetic. Meanwhile, the AI agent grows more accurate at predicting changes in behaviour or moods such as frustration.

Helen Lindsay explains what 'co-learning' means

The numbers back it up. Our recent Accenture Learning Reinvented survey showed companies that enable co-learning see five times higher workforce engagement, four times faster skill development, eight times more trust in leadership, and are 1.4 times more likely to report profitability growth.

But only about one in ten organisations have created the conditions for this kind of learning to flourish. The rest risk falling behind – not because the technology isn’t ready, but because their people aren’t being given the chance to learn differently. For Scotland, with its mix of global employers, public services and SMEs, that risk is especially acute.

The traditional “push” model of learning is broken. Workers are pulled away from their jobs for training sessions that rarely match the pace or context of real work. Only a quarter (24%) of employees say they have received training on how to collaborate effectively with AI. In sectors that matter deeply to Scotland – from financial services and energy to healthcare and local government – that gap is already being felt.

By contrast, co-learning is built into the flow of work. It’s “just in time” instead of “just in case.” It feels less like homework and more like a conversation. And crucially, it acknowledges that learning isn’t a one-way street. As we learn, so too does the machine.

AI doesn’t sit passively, waiting for us to master it - it learns with us (Picture: Adobe)

Across the UK, 75% of executives expect AI agents to be working alongside humans within three years. The urgency is now. Leaders who cling to old training playbooks will not only stunt their workers’ growth but also their own competitiveness in a global market that is moving fast.

Leaders must reframe AI as a partner in creativity, not just efficiency. Governance structures must hardwire trust so employees feel safe experimenting, and tools need to be designed around how people actually work – whether that’s in an Edinburgh office, a Glasgow call centre, or a rural public service.

We’ve reached a turning point. To thrive in the age of AI, Scotland must do more than learn new skills. We must relearn the way we learn.

Helen Lindsay, Managing Director, Talent & Organisation, Accenture Scotland