Human and AI facilitation in business simulations: blended support for organizational training

Purpose Many organizations rely on business simulations to help employees practice decision making and strategy. As participation grows, supporting learners consistently becomes harder. This article explores how human facilitators and AI systems can work together to support learning in larger programs. Design/methodology/approach This article draws on research on business simulations and learning technologies and uses examples from simulation-based training to show how blended facilitation can be implemented. Findings Human facilitators bring judgment, interpretation, and encouragement to the learning process. AI systems respond quickly, provide consistent guidance, and can assist many learners at the same time. When used together, these forms of support can strengthen the learning experience. Research limitations/implications The discussion is conceptual and draws on examples rather than empirical data. As a result, the paper does not evaluate outcomes from specific organizational implementations. Future research could examine how blended facilitation models operate across different industries and over time. Practical implications Training programs work better when each form of support is matched to what learners need. Social implications Blended models can expand access to learning support by providing automated assistance alongside guidance from facilitators. Originality/value This article outlines a framework for blended facilitation in simulations and discusses how organizations can design support structures that integrate human and AI roles.