Enhancing Virtual Reality Training Through Artificial Intelligence: A Case Study

Companies face the pressing challenge of bridging the skills gap caused by relentless technological progress and high worker turnover rates, necessitating continuous investment in upskilling and reskilling initiatives. Virtual reality (VR) is already used in training programs. However, despite its advantages, the authoring time for creating and customizing virtual environments often makes using this technology not completely convenient. This article proposes an architecture that aims to facilitate the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) assistance into VR training environments to improve user engagement and reduce authoring effort. The proposed architecture was tested in a study that compared a virtual training session with and without a digital assistant powered by AI. Results indicate comparable levels of usability and perceived workload between the two conditions, with higher performance satisfaction in the assisted condition.