By
Matthew Hearfield
March 11, 2025
Updated
March 13, 2025
Is AI transforming workplace learning or just making it more complicated? Are companies actually helping employees upskill, or are they stuck in outdated training methods?
In this episode, David Yeo, founder of Kydon, reveals why companies need to rethink AI-powered learning, and how employees can stay competitive in a rapidly changing world. He shares how his company pivoted from traditional content driven training to AI driven, conversation based learning, why productivity matters more than passive learning, and how AI is reshaping career growth.
Listen to the full episode below:
Founding Kydon
I left about ten years ago and started my company, Kydon, which essentially is about advancing the human potential with technology. So that’s how it all started.
David Yeo’s academic background played a pivotal role in shaping his career transition from the military to the learning technology space. He spent nearly 20 years in the Singapore Armed Forces, where he was given two scholarships to further his education. The second scholarship led him to Florida State University (FSU), where he studied Instructional Systems, a field focused on understanding how people learn to enhance workplace performance.
His studies at FSU marked a turning point in his career. Upon returning to Singapore, he took on key projects aimed at modernizing learning within the military. This experience laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey, culminating in the launch of Kydon, a company dedicated to advancing human potential through technology.
David describes Kydon as a learning technology company that provides both services and technology solutions. Initially, the company focused on traditional consulting and digital transformation for workplace learning. However, over time, they pivoted towards a more AI-driven approach to optimise learning experiences and enhance workplace productivity.
Kydon's mission & vision
How do we drive productivity? By helping those individuals in the workplace be able to upskill themselves, not just upskill themselves, but be more productive and more capable.
Kydon’s mission revolves around leveraging technology to enhance learning and workplace productivity. Initially, the company focused on helping organisations transition from traditional training methods to digital learning platforms. This included building learning management systems (LMS) that facilitated online training, knowledge sharing, and employee skill development.
Another key aspect of Kydon’s work is customization. The company tailors learning solutions based on the specific needs of industries and organizations, ensuring that their digital learning environments are aligned with business goals. Rather than providing one-size-fits-all solutions, Kydon develops adaptive, AI-powered training programs that allow employees to continuously upskill in real-time work environments.
David also stresses the importance of AI in reshaping workplace learning, recognizing that technology can personalise and optimise training at scale. Kydon’s evolution from a traditional learning technology provider to an AI-driven company underscores this shift. Today, the company is focused on using AI to enhance engagement, efficiency, and effectiveness in workplace learning.
The role of AI in learning
I even decided to close down my content team because I think moving forward, it is no longer about content, it's about problem-solving.
David Yeo highlights that AI is fundamentally reshaping the way people learn and acquire skills in the workplace. He explains that while technology has played a role in education for decades, AI is accelerating the transition from traditional learning models to more dynamic, adaptive, and personalised experiences.
Kydon initially provided content-driven e-learning solutions, but David quickly realised that the future of learning is not just about content, but about problem-solving. This led to a major strategic shift, where the company pivoted from being a traditional learning technology provider to an AI-powered learning company.
As part of this shift, David made a bold decision, he shut down Kydon’s content team. He argues that in today’s world, AI can generate learning content on demand, eliminating the need for static, pre-built training materials. Instead, Kydon now focuses on AI-driven learning solutions that adapt to individual learners' needs, allowing for a more interactive and problem-solving-based approach.
The four key principles in learning technology
David Yeo outlines four core principles that guide Kydon’s approach to implementing learning technology:
Efficiency – Learning solutions must optimise time and resources. AI-powered platforms help automate tasks such as training material creation, progress tracking, and personalised learning paths, ensuring that employees spend less time learning but gain more relevant skills.
Effectiveness – Technology should improve the quality and impact of learning. This means ensuring that employees retain knowledge, apply it in real-world scenarios, and continuously develop their skills. Kydon focuses on problem-solving approaches rather than traditional content-heavy models, making learning more impactful.
Engagement – Learning should be interactive, adaptive, and tailored to the needs of individuals. AI-driven learning tools allow for personalised experiences, where employees receive content and exercises suited to their strengths, weaknesses, and job roles. Engaged learners are more likely to retain information and apply it effectively in their work.
Efficacy – Learning solutions must drive measurable outcomes. Kydon prioritizes data-driven learning, ensuring that organisations can track employee progress and directly link training to performance improvements and business results. AI enables real-time analytics, allowing companies to fine-tune training programs based on actual effectiveness.
The future of AI in learning
David Yeo discusses how organisations must do more than just adopt AI, they need to strategically integrate it into their operations to remain competitive. He argues that AI is not just an enhancement to existing learning systems but a fundamental driver of transformation in how individuals and organisations develop skills.
One of the key challenges David highlights is that many companies are still trying to fit AI into traditional learning models, rather than restructuring their learning frameworks around AI. He believes that businesses must embrace AI at every level, culture, structure, and competencies, to fully unlock its potential.
By fully embracing AI, organisations can future-proof their workforce, ensuring that employees continuously acquire the right skills at the right time to meet evolving business demands.
Key takeaways
- Founding Kydon – Transitioned from a military career to founding Kydon, leveraging his expertise in instructional systems.
- Mission & Vision of Kydon – digitising workplace learning with AI-powered training solutions.
- The role of AI in learning – shifting learning from static content to dynamic, problem-solving approaches.
- Four key principles in learning technology – Efficiency, Effectiveness, Engagement, and Efficacy in workplace training.
- The future of AI in learning - Companies must fully integrate AI into learning to stay competitive.
Article and quotes have been edited for brevity and clarity.
