The AI race: How to stay ahead of artificial intelligence advances

Research suggests that nearly 1 in 3 employees in the UK are concerned with the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace.

Meanwhile, 39% of employees evidenced concerns regarding sufficient digital and technological training from their employer.

Fears about AI technology have led to the need for new regulation, with the UK hosting the worlds first major AI global summit later this year.

There’s no time to slow down in the race against AI, particularly in the workplace where there is a growing necessity for effective integration of change management into the workplace.

We’ve seen AI used for a variety of things in the workplace, from psychometric testing tools, to customer service chatbots, and the recently introduced ChatGPT. The use of AI is becoming an increasingly imbedded tool to everyday working structures.

But the main question is: can employees and managers keep up with these changes in the race against AI?

Now is the time to upskill employees for the technological changes currently happening, which is only predicted to continue. Leaders have a growing responsibility to facilitate this employee upskilling – if they don’t, they run the risk of falling behind.

Although many see AI as a threat, the aim is to mainly use it to enhance rather than replace roles currently done by humans. Using AI in the right way can provide us with great opportunities to enhance both employees and organisations, such as:

• Increasing efficiency and productivity – Employees benefit from streamlined systems, that help to minimise mundane time-consuming tasks, allowing more time for complex work or creative thinking.
• Improving decision making – AI systems are able to digest and analyse complex information which can assist improved and informed decision making and operations.
• Enhancing the customer experience – AI is beneficial for the personalisation and customisation of user experiences, improving the overall customer experience.

With this growing integration, employees have evidenced their concerns with nearly 60% of employees in the UK want rules for AI to be regulated in the workplace.

The UK is set to hold the first major global summit on AI safety.

The summit will see key countries, leading tech companies and AI researchers brought together to agree safety measures to evaluate and monitor the most significant risks and threats posed from AI.

In March, the government outlined their response to AI which focuses on: safety, security and robustness, transparency and explainability, fairness, accountability & governance, and contestability.

With the government focusing on the safe development and enhancement of AI, it bears the question, how can change be integrated and managed effectively into a business?

With the current race to reskill, and pressure to stay ahead with AI implementations, it is now important more than ever for leaders to become effective change managers for successful digital transformation.

Leaders should firstly establish an effective AI integration strategy, to create an ecosystem that integrates effective operations, whilst creating a strategy that contributes to a wider organisational competitive advantage.

Whilst integrating a detailed AI strategy is imperative for effective technological integration, it is also important to empower the team through sufficient upskilling programmes to create a valuable workplace ecosystem.

Only 40% of employees suggested they feel their employer is upskilling the workforce inline with the integration of technological tools. But it isn’t just technical skills that are necessary, Microsoft reports that the top skills required in the AI-powered future will be: analytical judgement, flexibility, and emotional intelligence.

Six steps below have been outlined for the successful integration of technological developments within the workplace:

1. Create understanding for the company’s vision – Discuss with employees why the integration of technological tools will be valuable to the company and valuable to the overall strategic vision.

2. Create discussion – Stimulate open conversations, to create insight and consideration into employee’s concerns. Help employees understand that it’s not about replacing people with AI, but rather being able to use AI effectively to enhance business operations.

3. Provide the resources to upskill – Consider training, time, and attention, for employees to familiarise and effectively understand the technological operations. Bear in mind AI is still changing at a fast pace, so training needs to be ongoing and adapt as the technology advances.

4. Ensure continuity of communications, policies, and behaviours – Building continuity across these areas will help ensure certainty and create credibility of the change.

5. Create collaboration opportunities – Empower employees through collaboration of ideas surrounding the integration. Letting employers have their say and suggest ideas helps to encourage a positive attitude towards the change.

6. Prepare for criticisms – Many people don’t like change, so are naturally going to resist the introduction and upskilling of AI, it’s important to understand that managing change within an organisation can be a dynamic process.

AI technologies can be significantly beneficial to business operations both internally and externally, however with increasing technological changes, it is imperative employees adapt successfully and embrace the future digital economy.

Becoming an effective change manager can considerably improve both employee satisfaction as well as business operations. This doesn’t come without its challenges, but is significant for the ever evolving digital landscape.

To learn more about the race to reskill, check out related articles:

• Why we need a global reskilling revolution by 2025
• Digital Skills Shortage: only 1 in 10 candidates have the skills for digital vacancies