I’ve spoken to a number of people over the last week or so, who have casually
acknowledged that they don’t use AI (knowingly anyway), and been adamant that they
wouldn’t want to, as they’re worried about what they may do wrong when using it!
Whilst on one hand, I totally understand the nervousness of doing something wrong.
But on the other, I find it sad to hear that these people have so easily dismissed the idea
of using (and potentially benefitting from) AI.
Now this isn’t a new concept. Part of the reason we set-up our company was to try to
breakdown the anxiety which can surround AI, through personalised and relatable
supportive training.
What is worrying me though, is that whilst I can see a growing number of people who
have dabbled with its use and are keen to use it more, I can also see an increasing
number of people who are starting to go in the opposite direction and are closing their
thoughts towards using it.
As someone who uses AI a lot, both for personal and professional reasons, this is
upsetting to see. AI adds a lot to my work. It helps me (responsibly) research areas and
find answers to things that would take me hours of additional time. I’m also not afraid to
admit that it helps support me to come up with creative ways of conveying ideas and
has been a massive advantage within my job when creating videos (although still
approached long-hand with an initial ‘shooting script’ I’ve created myself).
However, I don’t use it (very much) to help me write. I have always loved writing and feel
that I do better in my style than AI can (currently anyway!)….but I know a lot of people
who use it daily for this task, and for them it’s a massive support. Speaking to
colleagues, they say it saves them a lot of time and easily enhances the quality of their
writing in a way that they previously would have struggled to on their own.
Obviously as an owner of an AI training company, I’m always going to promote training
as a way to support understanding and consequently encourage an interest to learn
and try new practises.
However, as my recent conversations demonstrate, we also have to be conscious to
recognise that some people do feel uncomfortable to even contemplate using AI, and
we need to spend time to listen to their concerns in order to break down their barriers to
learning. Additionally, appreciating that not everyone will use AI in the same way (as
with me and my writing) I think is an important aspect of helping create a more inclusive
and supportive culture around AI.
After all, none of us just knew how to walk; we all had to have the interest (and
confidence) to learn how to, before we were able to take our first steps!
Suggestions on how to encourage your teams to take their first steps with AI:
• Lead by example: It’s amazing the impact that your actions can have on your
team. If you take time to learn and try new activities, it’s a great way to not only
encourage your team to do the same, but it can also help start a conversation
around AI.
• Sharing is caring: Having open and honest conversations around AI can be really
effective at enabling peers to raise their fears or concerns, whilst giving the
opportunity for positive experiences to also be shared. This can help to break
down people’s anxieties and create a supportive dialogue where colleagues
learn from each other.
• Relatable testimonials: Hearing how other people have benefited from using AI,
in roles that you’re able to relate to can be hugely powerful. Being able to
immediately identify with a colleague using AI to support them with a task that
you may often do, enables people to easily understand and see the benefits
from its use.
About the author: Katie Steen is the co-founder of WorkSmart-AI, which specialises in supporting universities to adopt AI, through senior leader consultancy and task-based workforce training.
Katie and her co-founder Dave Weller have both worked within educational L&D and
communications for over twenty years, most recently as Digital Skills Leads at the
University of Exeter.please visit their website:
If you would like to chat through ideas on building your staff or students AI capabilities,
please get in touch or visit their website – WorkSmart-AI.co.uk