It’s out there… lurking. Waiting in the shadows of the web. Waiting for you to… ask it a question or assign it a task. It’s Generative AI. And it’s here… for YOU.
For some, Generative AI (GenAI) seems like a monster, stalking their jobs and automating responsibilities. But that may simply be the fear of the unknown. We still don’t know exactly how GenAI will impact our lives and work, but we know a shift is happening. According to the IMF, AI is likely to change 40% of jobs worldwide, replacing some positions and transforming others.
That can be scary news when we don’t know what the end result will be. However, there is a way to conquer our fears. It’s not a wooden stake or a silver bullet. It’s AI literacy in the workplace. And like monsters in a horror movie, your learners are hungry for it.
‘Feed me (AI literacy courses), Seymour’
The rise of AI hasn’t stricken fear in the hearts of everyone. A significant number of learners are fascinated by the technology — particularly when it comes to how AI can be harnessed in their day-to-day work.
According to LinkedIn, four out of five people want to learn more about how to use AI in their jobs. They (and leadership) are looking to L&D to provide those AI literacy skills. A recent Hyland survey found that 98% of employees who use generative AI for work want training, and 57% want company-specific training content about how to use GenAI at work.
Gen Z in particular is interested in learning more about AI; they feel that GenAI skills can help them advance in their careers. Younger workers are digital natives used to the breakneck pace of technological advances; new technology is just a fact of life for them.
Despite a clear desire for AI skills, a LinkedIn survey found that only 38% of executives are providing training to help their workforce become AI-literate. Those who don’t offer that training, however, may find themselves facing unexpected problems.
The curse of not providing training for AI literacy
What happens if you ignore GenAI? What terrors await if you don’t provide AI literacy training for learners who crave it?
Holds flashlight under chin. Several terrors can befall your organization:
- Retention nightmares: If your learners are asking for training and you’re not providing them with it, you risk losing valuable workers to the abyss. They are likely to find employers who give them the learning they crave…
- The horrors of AI misuse: Without training that addresses compliance and AI ethics, your well-meaning employees may transform into liabilities, accidentally misusing AI and causing regulatory and legal issues.
- Falling behind: If your employees don’t get the training they need, your organization risks falling behind your competitors, slowing to a shambling crawl while they race ahead.
What should be included in an AI literacy course?
AI literacy courses are an important way to offer the skills your employees are asking for. Such courses equip your learners with the skills to do their jobs well, advance their careers, and ensure that your organization is using AI ethically. These are the skills that shed light on the unknowns about AI, and also keep scary stuff (like the horrors listed above) at bay.
What might an AI literacy course look like? In a recent article for Training Journal, Litmos’ Chief Product and Literacy Officer Tommy Richardson listed some key components of AI literacy programs:
- Ethics: If you’re going to use AI, it’s critical that everyone who interacts with it understands AI ethics. This includes training employees to understand and recognize bias in AI.
- Compliance: Employees who use AI need to understand legal and regulatory issues around the technology, including data privacy laws, industry-specific regulations, and internal policies.
- Proper AI usage: Proper usage training teaches employees how to use AI tools effectively in their day to day jobs This includes understanding AI’s limitations, knowing when human intervention is necessary, and maintaining a balance between automation and the human touch.
These soft skills are essential in helping your employees use AI well, and to the best of their abilities. But you need not stop with these skills.
AI literacy shouldn’t give you a fright
Like any witch’s brew, AI literacy training programs aren’t one-size-fits all.
Creating an AI training program should be a thoughtful and deliberate process, and not necessarily limited to the elements listed above. L&D professionals must look at how AI is being used in the organization, what specific skills are needed, and what pitfalls should be avoided. Any effective AI literacy training program should address the specific needs of the organization, as well as any regulatory guidelines for AI set out for that company’s region or industry.
By taking a careful look at how AI can be used to solve the business needs of your company, you can build a program that supports your learners… and even dispel some of the fears around AI.