Build Your AI Literacy

#LeadershipInTheAgeOfAI

In this era of humans working with machines, being an effective leader with AI means augmenting your leadership toolkit.

Statistically speaking, your organization is likely already using artificial intelligence, and you probably have full-scale deployment of several AI applications. A recent survey revealed as much, as well as that nearly every business leader sees AI as critical to business success over the next five years.

AI may be transforming business and impacting the bottom line, but do business leaders understand how AI works, its applications and the potential risks? They need to. Being a successful leader in this era requires AI literacy.

Counter to common assumptions, AI is not the sole province of data scientists and machine learning engineers. The technology is intellectually accessible without a data science background. AI literacy refers to a solid grasp of the different types of AI, the data they consume, the implications for regulatory compliance and ethics, and the trajectory of this technology as it continues to mature.

This is a lesson business leaders have learned before. Thinking back to the dynamic change of the dot-com era, every organization was transformed by the mass accessibility of the personal computer, user-friendly software and ubiquitous internet access. In that time, business leaders needed to understand how these tools could be used together to access new business and improve operations. They also needed an appreciation for the emergence of cybersecurity risks, the importance of upskilling the workforce and the implications for technology acquisition.

Effective decision-making with technology required literacy, and in AI, we see the imperative. Without AI literacy, business leaders may be flying blind, and the organization’s AI programs may fall short of intended value or introduce unintended, unmitigated risks.

Avenues For Learning And Literacy

In the C-suite, each business leader contends with issues specific to their role. AI literacy means, in part, understanding how AI functions in the context of their work. What is relevant to the chief marketing officer may not be the same for human resources, accounting or finance. As a way of structuring your AI education, consider the avenues for knowledge along three paths: individual learning, internal assets and third-party resources.

Individual Learning

There is a large volume of material online covering the basics of AI. There are outlets like Towards Data Science , which offers a range of AI and data science content with varying degrees of technical detail. There are also virtual learning opportunities, such as via the open courses from a platform like edX (co-founded by MIT and Harvard) or through virtual conferences offered by AI-focused organizations, such as the nonprofit Humans for AI . Alongside structured learning, keep tabs on AI developments through books, news items, reports and social platform discussions that look at AI through the business leadership lens. In addition, start paying attention to and being curious about the AI that is around you all the time. AI fuels the online platforms within your business, the tools you use to communicate, the customer experience with other businesses and the applications friends and family use casually. Simply being aware of AI helps you construct a larger and more complex sense of what it is and how it can be used.

Internal Education

You may already have AI experts and data scientists on staff. They can offer a wealth of knowledge about AI applications and their functions. Transferring some of that knowledge to non-technologists could come in the form of internal workshops or seminars led by the organization’s AI experts. These employees may also be able to direct you to the documents and resources the company has available for its AI programs.

Third-Party Resources

Most businesses are currently on a transformative AI journey, and the leaders of those organizations may be asking the same questions and seeking the same knowledge. What lessons have they learned? What insights might you share? Look for opportunities to engage with colleagues on the topic of AI, such as during industry events, through ad hoc meetings or as part of a structured and ongoing dialogue with people in your industry. Additionally, the vendors that supply your enterprise platforms may have reports and learning guides that help demystify their solutions for a nontechnical audience. They may also be eager to contribute to building the organization’s AI literacy through informal discussions or more formal gatherings.

One important outcome from AI literacy among leadership is that business units are better prepared to collaborate with technologists. Data scientists often do not have the visibility or the subject matter familiarity to conceive of a useful AI deployment in a business unit where they have no background. An AI-literate business leader can serve as the liaison between technologists and line of business users, helping data scientists understand what is needed, while also helping the workforce use AI to its most valuable end. By this same measure, AI introduces new risks and considerations for business ethics. Business leaders equipped with AI literacy are best prepared to help the organization navigate a challenging and fast-evolving technology field.

As a final point, remember that AI literacy is unlikely to be earned passively. Learning takes effort and intention. In this age of AI, business leaders are called not just to be aware of their AI programs but to truly understand them.

Originally published at https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/people/beenaammanath1/?sh=33cfc0b2bd3e