Education and Online Courses Aren’t Dead (AI is Elevating Them To New Heights)

When people say online courses are dead, I smile. Because from where I stand, running two growing companies, one focused on digital learning (eLearning Partners) and the other on health and performance (Athlete with Asthma), the truth couldn’t be more different. Education isn’t dying. It’s evolving. And AI isn’t replacing it. It’s supercharging it.

In this post (and in the youtube video linked here and embedded above, and in my newest podcast episode linked here), I want to share why education and online courses are not only alive but thriving. I’ll walk you through three powerful reasons why AI is elevating learning to new heights and what you can do to future-proof your own learning experiences. Whether you’re an entrepreneur building digital products, an educator trying to adapt, or a team leader focused on internal training, you’ll find real, practical value here.

3 Reasons Why Education and Online Courses Aren't Dead:

Reason #1 Real Human Experience Still Matters

Let me start with something personal. I’m not just a tech guy or a coach. I’m also an elite ultra runner who was told as a kid that I’d never play soccer, let alone run marathons. I have asthma, and at four years old, doctors essentially told me to play it safe for the rest of my life. But through years of breath training, movement, and guidance from alternative health professionals, I proved them wrong.

Now I run 100K ultramarathons and operate two businesses, eLearning Partners and Athlete with Asthma. I’ve built everything I teach from real-world experience. That matters. And it’s why I believe that human connection must remain at the center of any learning experience. AI can offer data and structure, but it cannot replicate what you, a human with lived stories and insight, can provide.

We’re drawn to stories not because they are polished but because they’re true. AI can imitate the format of a good story. But it can't feel the cold air of a 5 a.m. run or the ache of lungs fighting for breath. When you bring your authentic experience into your teaching, you elevate your online course from a digital product to a transformational journey.

Reason #2: AI Makes Course Creation Faster and Better

Here’s the second thing people get wrong. They think AI is the enemy of educators. In reality, AI is your production partner. Before I began using AI tools like ChatGPT in my workflow, building out a course could take weeks or even months. Now I can launch a complete, high-quality learning experience in under a week.

AI accelerates everything, from researching niche topics and writing scripts to designing lesson flows and even building quizzes. It’s like going from digging with a spoon to working with a backhoe. You still direct the work, but now you have a machine that handles the heavy lifting.

Instead of fearing AI, course creators should be asking, “How can I use this to make something better, faster, and more meaningful for my learners?” I’m not talking about replacing educators with chatbots. I’m talking about freeing up your energy so you can focus on storytelling, coaching, and creating transformational value—the things AI can’t do.

Reason #3: Learning Is a Core Human Need

This leads us to something deeper. Learning is not a luxury. It’s not even just a tool for economic advancement. It’s a basic human need, just like movement, connection, and purpose.

We crave transformation. Whether you’re building a course for customers or creating a training program for your team, you are in the business of change. And when your learning experience helps someone become who they want to be—whether that’s a more confident marketer, a stronger manager, or a healthier version of themselves—you fulfill a fundamental human desire.

What AI does here is remarkable. It helps remove the friction from the learning process. We no longer have to wade through outdated textbooks or sit through irrelevant lectures. AI allows learners to zero in on what matters to them and go deep. That kind of access and autonomy only strengthens our desire to learn, not diminish it.

3 Things Your Online Courses, eLearning program, or Learning Experiences Need:

#1 Personalized Coaching Is the X-Factor

One of the best ways to bring your course or program to life is by adding a layer of real human interaction. For me, that looks like personalized coaching built directly into the learning experience. I do this inside my Kajabi-based coaching programs, both for eLearning clients and for my Athlete with Asthma community.

You don’t have to schedule hundreds of Zoom calls to make this work. Sometimes, all it takes is answering comments inside a course portal or hosting a live Q&A once a month. The key is creating a direct link between you and your learners. That link builds trust. And trust is the currency of transformation.

If you’re teaching online and not offering some form of coaching—whether group-based or one-on-one—you’re missing the most potent accelerator in education. AI can support this, but it can’t replace it. Coaching is where learners feel seen, heard, and empowered to apply what they’ve learned.

#2 Community Is the Secret Ingredient

Let’s be real. We’re more connected digitally than ever, but many people feel lonelier than ever. Your online course or program can be the place where that changes—where learners connect with each other around shared values, goals, and transformations.

In my coaching community, we don’t just teach strategy. We talk about mindset. We share wins. We encourage each other through setbacks. And yes, we explore how to shift from scarcity thinking to an abundant, creative way of living and learning. This is the stuff that AI can’t touch.

There are countless ways to build community into your learning experience. You can use platforms like Kajabi (Grab your free trial here). You can host virtual coworking sessions or accountability calls. Whatever format you choose, just remember, community isn’t a bonus. It’s essential. Because people don’t just learn from content—they learn from each other.

#3 Encouragement and Abundance Move People Forward

The final ingredient, and possibly the most overlooked, is encouragement. If you walk through an airport or grocery store today, you’ll notice it. People look exhausted. Disconnected. Discouraged. We live in an era of endless information but low energy.

As a creator, educator, or coach, one of the most valuable things you can do is become a voice of encouragement. Not fluff. Not fake hype. But honest belief in your learners’ potential. When someone is struggling to move forward, a simple “You’ve got this” from a real human can be the thing that re-engages them.

This mindset shift is something I learned from my mentor, Graham Cochrane. He taught me that when you encourage your learners and invite them into a state of abundance—where they see opportunity, possibility, and potential—you help them move not just through your course but through life itself.

Education Isn’t Dead. It’s Evolving Fast.

So no, education and online courses aren’t dead. They’re just entering a new era. An era where AI accelerates what’s possible, but where human experience, connection, and encouragement remain the core of what makes learning meaningful.

If you’re building online courses, training programs, or learning communities, now is your time. Use AI to move faster and think bigger, but root your work in real stories, real support, and real transformation.

That’s how we not only future-proof our learning, but our lives.