AI and you- how to use artificial intelligence

As we enter a new era of artificial intelligence (AI), businesses must prepare for the changing nature of work and jobs. With many roles and tasks set to become redundant due to AI’s capabilities, it’s essential to future-proof your workplace now to ensure employees are protected and to achieve the best possible output, explains Chris Dahl, co-CEO Pin Payments.

So, how can you equip your business with the right tools to protect your employees and harness the exciting prospects of AI?

Here are a few tips to help your business in the lead-up to the AI revolution.

AI robot using tablet

1. Embrace a culture of lifelong learning

With AI removing many rudimentary tasks, creativity and fostering a workplace of learning will be essential. Encourage employees to be open-minded about their roles and look for opportunities to upskill, to ensure they stay relevant in a rapidly changing job market. Implement training programs and provide access to resources for continuous learning on AI-related technologies and applications. By empowering your employees to embrace learning, you can create a versatile and adaptable workforce capable of integrating AI into their roles.

2. Identify roles for human-AI collaboration

AI is not supposed to replace humans but to augment their capabilities. Your first step as a business leader is to identify areas within the business where human-AI collaboration can be most impactful. Automate certain tasks to free up your employees to focus on higher-value work that requires creativity, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking. Understanding the potential of AI-human collaboration will help you optimise workforce productivity and allocate resources efficiently. If you have employees in admin roles, look carefully at their capabilities and see where their unique skills could be used in the business.

3. Develop AI literacy across your business

To effectively embrace Artificial Intelligence as a business, you need to ensure that all employees, regardless of their roles, possess a basic level of AI literacy. This involves educating your workforce about the fundamental concepts and applications of AI. When employees understand AI’s potential and limitations, they can better identify opportunities to leverage AI and overcome any apprehensions they may have.

4. Implement reskilling and upskilling programs

The AI revolution may render some job roles obsolete, but it will also create new positions. Once you’ve identified the roles that are at risk of automation, create a reskilling program to transition employees into other areas where their skills can be applied. Be sure to look at your employees’ skills holistically, to identify any soft skills or other areas of interest that could be useful. Creative or strategic thinkers will be extremely useful in the AI revolution. Additionally, offer upskilling programs to prepare employees for emerging AI-driven roles. By investing in reskilling and upskilling, you will retain talent and adapt to the changing demands of the AI-driven workforce.

5. Foster creativity, critical thinking and emotional intelligence

Encourage creativity and critical thinking among your employees, as these qualities will become increasingly valuable in the AI era. Train employees to think strategically, strive to solve complex problems, and envision solutions that Artificial Intelligence may not yet be capable of achieving. Likewise, encourage employees to develop strong emotional intelligence skills, especially those in customer-facing roles. Whilst AI may handle data analysis efficiently, it lacks emotional intelligence or capabilities for empathy. Emotional intelligence fosters better customer relationships, team collaboration, and leadership abilities, which are critical for maintaining a human touch in an increasingly AI-influenced world.

6. Establish ethical AI guidelines

As Artificial Intelligence becomes more ingrained in business operations, it is essential to establish ethical guidelines for its use. Ensure your workforce understands the ethical implications and how to maintain fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI-driven decisions. Ethical AI practices will build trust with customers, employees, and stakeholders, which is vital for the long-term success of your brand.

The AI revolution will present opportunities to revolutionise the way we work. By future-proofing your workforce, you can harness the potential of Artificial Intelligence to drive innovation and growth while ensuring that your employees remain protected. Embracing a culture of learning and identifying opportunities for human-AI collaboration, will help your business thrive through the transition.

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