Highly regulated and classified work environments seem incompatible with modern learning technology, like, you guessed it... AI. At BWXT, based in Barberton, Ohio, we manufacture large components for nuclear reactors used in U.S. Navy submarines and aircraft carriers. The Navy is our only customer. There is no outside network access, no USB drives, phones are prohibited onsite unless cameras and audio recording are disabled, and for every camera assigned to a trainer, all digital assets must be reviewed and approved before they touch the system. Until recently, our trainings were either PowerPoint or on paper.

This session explores how that mindset is changing and how learning professionals can adapt responsibly. I'll desciribe how we are using AI features in Articulate 360, alongside other common learning design tools, to enhance instructional design without exposing sensitive data or violating security requirements. Rather than focusing on tools, this session centers on trust, governance, and practical application. We’ll discuss how fear of AI “giving away company secrets” shows up in regulated organizations, how those concerns can be addressed, and what it takes to get leadership buy-in. You will participate in a short interactive activity where you'll evaluate a real-world training challenge from a high-security environment and decide where AI can and cannot safely add value. You'll leave with some concrete examples and a clearer framework for introducing AI in even the most locked-down settings.

In this session, you will learn:

• Concrete examples of safe AI use in a highly secure, regulated environment
• A framework for introducing AI in even the most locked-down settings

This session does not require prior hands-on experience with AI. Attendees should have a general familiarity with instructional design concepts and authoring tools such as Articulate 360; the focus is on understanding where AI fits, how to use it safely, and how to navigate organizational concerns in regulated or high-security environments.