AI First? Make Sure Your People Understand It First
This mindset involves embracing the potential of AI to enhance productivity, efficiency, and innovation in the workplace. It also requires developing skills in data analysis, problem-solving, and collaboration to fully leverage AI technologies. By fostering a culture that values continuous learning and adaptation, organizations can stay ahead of the curve in an increasingly AI-driven world.
AI: Educate first. AI-first thinking doesn’t just spring out of a vacuum. Leaders and employees need to adopt an AI-first mindset that prepares everyone for the changes ahead. This makes training and education about AI more important than anything – and where any AI-first efforts are most likely to get bogged down.
The Need for AI Education
Among students, 65% say they had not had the opportunity to take an AI-specific or AI-inclusive course at their universities, according to a student-run survey published in EdTech. Only three percent felt very confident that their education would help them secure a job in a field involving AI.
AI education is still lacking for current employees as well. While the percentage of workers using AI for their jobs increased from eight percent in 2023 to more than one-third (35%) as of this spring, only 31% said their employer provided training on AI tools, according to a survey released by Jobs for the Future.
In addition, AI use appears to be an individual endeavor, with a majority (60%) reporting using AI primarily for self-directed learning.
The Importance of AI Education and Training
The importance of education and training to prepare organizations for an AI future is emphasized by Adam Brotman and Andy Sack in their latest book, AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand. An AI-first policy cannot move forward without education and training. Brotman and Sack highlight that "An AI-first mindset requires a commitment to ongoing education about AI technologies and their potential applications."
Such programs should begin with programs to build proficiency across the organization. These programs should cover AI basics, applications, and potential impacts on various business functions. Ultimately, AI education and training smooth the way for proper governance and process for scaling AI within a company.
The Progression of AI Education
Adam Brotman and Andy Sack outline the progression for both individuals and their organizations – from experimenting with AI to building an AI-first culture:
AI literacy: Individual use reigns at this stage. For individuals, it means the use of AI for basic search and information retrieval. Organizationally, the first stage of AI literacy is to use it for simple cost-cutting. Additional functions include implementing AI for basic content creation and customer chatbots.
AI proficiency: Individuals start using AI for more complex tasks, such as custom GPTs for specific purposes. From an organizational perspective, AI is adopted for workforce automation and ideation. AI is employed for advanced content creation and detailed customer interaction. AI also gets integrated into various departments to enhance productivity.
AI fluency, or ready for AI-first approaches: At this more advanced stage, individuals demonstrate a capability to innovate with AI to create innovative solutions and use AI to enhance personal projects and productivity significantly. Organizationally, AI gets used extensively for strategy, margin improvement, and competitive differentiation. Organizations that have achieved greater AI fluency leverage AI for strategic decision-making and resources allocation, innovate to a greater degree, and achieve significant impacts on business margins and market position through AI.
Notably, an AI-first mindset also borrows from the lean approach to management, emphasizing continuous improvement and innovations by building products that customers want through interactive cycles of build, measure, and learning.