Unlocking the Power of AI: Creating Training Scripts and Voiceovers for ILT and Video-Based Courses

Introduction: How AI is Revolutionizing Training Content Creation

The use of AI in instructional design is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s happening right now. Whether you’re developing instructor-led training (ILT) scripts, video-based voiceovers, or entire eLearning modules, AI can help speed up content creation while ensuring high-quality, structured, and engaging materials.

AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity offer instructional designers a way to generate training content efficiently, refine it for different audiences, and optimize for engagement. However, like any tool, AI is only as effective as the input it receives. That’s where well-structured prompts come in. This article contains a high-level introduction to prompting – it will get you started.

In this article, we’ll walk through:

How to create concise training objectives using AI
How to leverage source materials to improve AI-generated scripts
A step-by-step process for generating ILT training scripts
How to use AI for voiceover scripts in video-based training
How to refine and iterate on AI-generated content to ensure accuracy and engagement
How defining a role for AI enhances its output quality

Let’s dive into how to structure prompts effectively and use AI as a powerful co-pilot in training content development.

Using AI to Create Concise Training Objectives

Why Clear Training Objectives Matter

Before jumping into script development, you need a solid foundation: clear learning objectives. Well-defined objectives:

Provide a focus for course design and content development
Help learners understand what they’ll gain from the training
Ensure assessments and activities align with learning goals

A good training objective follows the SMART framework:

Specific – Clearly defines what the learner will do
Measurable – Can be assessed through evaluation
Achievable – Realistic given the learners’ background
Relevant – Aligns with business or educational goals
Time-bound – Can be completed within the course timeframe

How AI Can Help Craft Training Objectives

AI can generate or refine objectives based on course descriptions, source materials, or SME input.

Prompt Example #1:
“Generate three SMART training objectives for a course on cybersecurity awareness for employees. Keep them clear and action-oriented.”
Prompt Example #2:
“Rewrite these training objectives to be more measurable: [paste current objectives].”
Prompt Example #3:
“Suggest learning objectives for a leadership development program that emphasizes communication and decision-making skills.”

Refining these objectives ensures your training is structured and impactful before moving into scriptwriting.

Using Source Material to Enhance AI-Generated Scripts

Why Provide Source Content?

AI is powerful, but it works best with accurate, high-quality source material. Instead of relying on AI to generate scripts from scratch, providing relevant content ensures accuracy and alignment with your organization’s training needs.

Examples of Useful Source Materials:

Existing Documentation: Policies, SOPs, compliance guidelines
Training Presentations: Slide decks, instructor guides
Recorded Webinars: Transcripts from SME presentations
Survey Data: Learner feedback to address training gaps

How to Incorporate Source Material in AI Prompts

Some AIs support the capability to upload source content in its original format like PDFs, Word docs, PowerPoint presentations, etc. In other cases you can:

Copy-paste key sections of your training materials into a prompt
Provide a summary of the key concepts
Specify how you want AI to use the content

Prompt Example #1:
“Using this section from our compliance manual, create a 15-minute ILT training script that explains these policies to employees: [paste content].”
Prompt Example #2:
“Summarize the key takeaways from this training presentation and structure them into a voiceover script for a 3-minute video: [paste slide notes].”
Prompt Example #3:
“Based on this SME transcript, create an interactive ILT session that includes discussion questions and activities: [paste transcript excerpt].”

This approach ensures AI-generated scripts are accurate, relevant, and aligned with your training goals.

Enhancing AI Responses by Defining Its Role

One of the most effective ways to improve AI-generated training content is by assigning a role or background when prompting. This helps AI tailor its responses to the appropriate expertise level, tone, and instructional approach.

For example, instead of a generic request like “Create a training script on cybersecurity,” you can specify:

“Act as a senior instructional designer specializing in corporate compliance training. Develop a 30-minute instructor-led training script on cybersecurity best practices for non-technical employees.”

By clearly defining the AI’s role, you:

Ensure the response aligns with industry best practices
Receive a more structured and relevant output
Get content that matches the tone and expertise level needed for your audience

Examples of Role-Based AI Prompts

1️⃣ For an Instructor-Led Training (ILT) Session:
“Act as a corporate trainer with expertise in leadership development. Create a 45-minute ILT session on emotional intelligence for mid-level managers, including an interactive exercise and a discussion guide.”

2️⃣ For Video-Based Training Voiceovers:
“You are an experienced eLearning scriptwriter specializing in compliance training. Write a 3-minute voiceover script for a video on workplace ethics, using a formal yet engaging tone.”

3️⃣ For Refining Course Learning Objectives:
“Assume the role of a senior instructional designer for a Fortune 500 company. Review these draft learning objectives for an onboarding program and rewrite them to be clearer, more engaging, and measurable.”

By incorporating role-based context into your prompts, you guide AI to generate more precise, relevant, and high-quality content that aligns with industry standards and instructional best practices.

Using AI to Generate Training Content Step-by-Step

To ensure a structured and well-reviewed training course, it’s best to prompt AI to wait before creating content until all course materials have been uploaded and reviewed. AI can then assist with the content generation in an iterative, step-by-step manner.

Step 1: Upload and Review Course Content

Before requesting AI to generate content, ensure all source materials are gathered.
Use a structured prompt like: “Do not generate any training content yet. First, wait until all course materials are uploaded. Once confirmed, begin by creating a course outline.”

Step 2: Generate a Course Outline

Start with a high-level structure before developing full content.
Prompt AI with: “Now that the course materials are provided, generate a detailed course outline covering all major topics and subtopics.”

Step 3: Review and Revise the Outline

Evaluate the AI-generated outline for completeness and logical flow.
Request revisions if needed: “Modify this outline to include a dedicated section on [specific topic] and adjust the flow for better comprehension.”

Step 4: Develop Content in Sections

Instead of generating an entire course at once, break it into sections.
Prompt AI with: “Using the approved outline, generate the content for Section 1: [topic]. Keep it concise and engaging.”

Step 5: Review and Revise Each Section Before Proceeding

After each section is generated, review and refine it before moving to the next.
Example follow-up prompt: “Revise this section to include an interactive scenario-based exercise.”

Step 6: Continue the Process Until Completion

Repeat the process for each section until the course is fully developed.
Ensure final consistency and flow before finalizing the content.

By following this step-by-step approach, AI-generated training content remains structured, well-reviewed, and highly effective.

Unlocking the Potential of AI in Training Design

AI can be an invaluable tool for instructional designers, helping to create, refine, and optimize training scripts efficiently. By structuring prompts effectively, leveraging source material, and refining AI-generated content iteratively, you can enhance both ILT and video-based training experiences.

As AI technology evolves, instructional designers have an opportunity to work smarter, not harder—using AI as a co-pilot to develop engaging, effective learning experiences.