Unleash 2025: 6 key trends that are redefining the future of corporate learning

Oct 24, 2025

min

©Unleash

Supermanagers: driving bottom-up transformation

“You’re not going to be able to do this yourself,” warned Josh Bersin on stage. Faced with the exponential speed of technological change, top-down strategies alone won’t cut it. The companies that thrive will be the ones that empower their managers to spread culture, drive experimentation, and lead change. This is no longer just an opinion: it’s backed by data.

According to the report “People Management in the Age of AI” from The Josh Bersin Company, top-performing organizations are the ones that invest heavily in their managers. Not just in technical skills, but in posture, emotional intelligence, and the ability to activate learning within teams.

The supermanager is no longer a top-down authority figure: they’re a catalyst for transformation. And that’s exactly who L&D teams should be designing for.

AI agents everywhere: the end of portals and platforms

The other breakout star at the event? AI agents. We’re not talking about basic chatbots here, but intelligent copilots capable of detecting weak signals in conversations, anticipating a manager’s needs, and delivering just-in-time support.

Josh Bersin put it plainly: “We’re going to replace most HR portals and LXP platforms with agents.” These aren’t just interfaces: they’re adaptive, learning systems that turn meetings, chats, and everyday workflows into learning moments.

This “digital twin” logic is flipping the script: AI isn’t replacing humans, it’s enhancing their learning capabilities.

LLMs are becoming the primary learning engine

One of the most striking figures from UNLEASH: 60 to 70% of ChatGPT’s 800 million daily users rely on it to learn. Not to search. To learn.

The linear, course-based models of the LMS era are fading. Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPT-4o enable more interactive, conversational, and personalized learning. The learner is no longer passive. They ask, rephrase, go deeper, explore. They own the journey.

Josh Bersin calls this the “curiosity cycle”: the more the AI teaches you, the more you want to learn. That dynamic, powered by LLMs, is replacing static formats across the board.

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Learning in the flow of work becomes the new normal

A long-time aspiration, “learning in the flow of work” is finally becoming the new standard. Say goodbye to disconnected 45-minute modules buried in external platforms. Learning now happens in Teams, Slack, WhatsApp, precisely when and where the need arises.

Why now? Because of AI. It can detect real-time learning moments (conflicts, feedback sessions, new projects) and surface the right content or coaching tip without friction. LMS and LXP systems as destinations are obsolete. Learning becomes a companion.

As Josh Bersin reminded the crowd, this isn’t just about tech: “The course-based learning model is dead. What matters now is support, guidance, and contextual activation.”

Beware the “AI-washing” vendors

UNLEASH 2025 also revealed a growing divide between two worlds: legacy vendors layering AI on top of outdated platforms, and next-gen solutions reimagining the learning experience from scratch.

Bersin didn’t mince words: “Be careful with vendors who just put AI on top. What you need is systemic integration.” In other words, AI must be the engine. Not a feature.

This is pushing HR and L&D teams to rethink procurement. Should we keep investing in platforms designed a decade ago, or leap into AI-native tools built for today’s learners?

Why Blify stole the show at UNLEASH 2025

One of the most talked-about startups on the Innovation Stage, Blify made waves. Selected as one of the Top 5 most promising startups by UNLEASH, the French startup introduced a bold new category: the Learning Operating System (LOS).

Blify transforms Microsoft Teams into a continuous learning space for managers, powered by a suite of multi-specialist AI agents. No more catalogs or static modules. Here, AI observes the manager’s challenges, identifies real-time needs, and activates personalized learning journeys, tailored to the context, sector, and team.

The results? 60% weekly engagement, 95% satisfaction… and clients like Club Med and Kaufman & Broad already on board. Blify doesn’t try to “do LMS better”. It rewrites the rules.

Conclusion: a new era for HR and Learning

UNLEASH 2025 wasn’t just a tech showcase, it was a wake-up call. The old tools won’t meet the challenges ahead. AI is no longer a sidekick; it’s the operating system. Managers are no longer passive learners; they are learning enablers. Content is no longer king; context is.

For HR, L&D, and business leaders, the choice is clear: either brace for change or drive it. And a new generation of tools, approaches, and partners (like Blify) is here to help.

It’s time to train differently. To manage differently. To think differently.

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FAQ

What was the biggest trend at UNLEASH 2025?
The end of the traditional LMS and the rise of in-the-flow-of-work learning powered by AI agents.

What is a supermanager?
A manager trained to be a transformation catalyst — spreading culture, enabling learning, and leading through change.

Why are LLMs essential for learning?
They support dynamic, conversational, and contextual learning — replacing linear formats like static courses.

What is Blify?
A French startup turning Microsoft Teams into an AI-powered Learning Operating System that delivers contextual, personalized, real-time learning for managers.

Will AI replace trainers?
No. It enhances them. More importantly, it enables real-time support where traditional formats fail.