AI & VR Technology is Unlocking the Future of Soft Skill Development with Sophie Thompson

Is it possible for technology to make us fundamentally better at the things that make us uniquely human? It's a bit of a paradox but the potential of what's possible and what's already happening today will blow your mind. In this Learning Tech Talks I'm chatting with Sophie Thompson, one of the brilliant minds behind VirtualSpeech, and let me tell you, it was enlightening. Her founder story sets the stage for why overcoming one of the most paralyzing human skills is so meaningful to her. In our discussion, we delved deep into how the fusion of AI and VR is shifting many paradigms in the ways we approach soft skill development. Ever wondered how the virtual world stacks up against real-world interactions, especially when it comes to diverse personalities? Much closer than you realize, and we unpack why. But what really caught my attention was an unexpected bonus of integrating AI into language learning - Sophie shared some remarkable insights that I believe are going to be game-changers for the continued globalization of everything we do. The more we spoke, the clearer it became that the horizon of skill development is vast and incredibly promising. Curious about what the future holds? Jump into this conversation with us. The future of learning? It's unfolding right here. ****Show Notes**** 0:00 - Introduction 1:55 - Overcoming Social Anxiety with Tech 11:22 - Building Confidence with Soft Skills 21:04 - Using VR Right 33:41 - The Impact of Generative AI 41:57 - The Advancement of Active Learning 54:07 - Making Accessibility Accessible