AI and Instructional Design: What Works, What Fails, and What Actually Scales

AI is everywhere in higher education now, but at what level and at what pace? Instructional designers are being asked to lead, support, and scale AI use while figuring it out in real time, often without clear guidance or feedback on what actually works. This facilitated conversation is grounded in practice, not theory. Drawing from hands-on experience across multiple AI tools and real course development work, this session explores what it looks like to use AI intentionally, creatively, and effectively. From designing immersive learning experiences to embedding AI support directly into the learning environment, we will focus on where these tools genuinely add value and where they fall short. Together, we will have an honest, interactive conversation about what is working, what is not, and what actually scales. Rather than focusing on specific tools, this session emphasizes patterns, decision-making strategies, and the evolving role of instructional designers as creative and strategic partners. Participants will share wins, frustrations, and lessons learned while identifying approaches they can apply in their own contexts. If you are trying to make sense of AI in your day-to-day work and want a real conversation about what that looks like in practice, this session is for you.