Last week Connect Three hosted two AI Roundtables with Senior Leaders from across Scotland. We had a rich variety of industries and roles in attendance including CEOs, CFOs, Technology leads and HR professionals.
Generative AI is a hot topic. Everyone has at least some awareness of its existence and most have dabbled in using it.
Like all new innovations, we have those trailblazing ahead and those lagging behind. In a room full of Senior Leaders, we were curious to understand where on the adoption curve these business minds were positioned.
As it turns out, this dichotomy of 30 business leaders was spread all over- Innovators, laggards and everywhere in between.
We heard stories of Law firms adopting AI in new and innovative ways. We heard how AI had transformed a business’s Net Promoter Score. We also heard from businesses who didn’t really understand what this AI thing was or how to implement it for the greater good.
No matter the AI experience level of the senior leader, there were a few stand-out themes that emerged from the roundtable discussion, that all attendees could relate to.:
1. AI needs humans
At the heart of every AI action is a human being. It’s important that in the context of work, we are upskilling employees with the ability to think critically, adopt a growth mindset, understand how to ethically use AI and the utilise AI tools within the workplace. We must provide training to ensure employees feel empowered in the use of AI.
We also have an obligation to provide guidance, whether this looks like a stringent AI policy or a ‘do and don’t’ document. The relaity is that most employees are using AI anyways.
2. AI for Good
AI should not be seen solely as a productivity tool. AI can provide opportunities to improve employee wellbeing, streamline employee processes and ultimately free up employees to focus on the task that they really find joy in, by removing repetitive and process driven tasks.
3. AI and environmental Impact
It’s important for organisations to acknowledge the environmental impact of AI. As many organisations commit to developing ESG policies, where does the impact of AI fit into this strategy?
4. AI does the task, not the work
We need to shift perspective and consider AI as a tool to free employees from repetitive tasks. AI does not do the work of an employee. AI supports the employee to do better work. AI frees an employee from tasks that may be sapping their time and energy. Imagine a work environment where employees are free from burdensome administration and can focus on more impactful work.
5. AI isn’t going anywhere
Ultimately, no matter your view on AI, it’s here to stay in some capacity. In fact most of us have been using it in daily life, for many years, without even realising it.
You can either board the train while it’s at the station or run and try and catch it later. You don’t need to gain expert knowledge, but you do need to understand AI enough to think strategically about its potential influence and impact in the workplace.
ChooChoo!
This blog was written by hand, not AI, hence the mediocre joke😊