The Education Gap Is Failing Smart AI Use For Work

Intelligent AI use in the workplace is big for 2024.

What does that word intelligent mean though? It has different meaning for each of us. My latest research efforts have taken me on the journey of uncovering how conversational AI tools are quickly impacting employee performance for the better.

This is something we should pay attention to in the game of careers.

We shouldn’t rely on Gen AI tools to do everything for us. That would be foolish. Collaboration is the way forward. Unless you want AI to overthrow us of course.

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It’s an interesting time to work in the field of L&D specifically with GEN AI.

I spend my days helping workforces to cut through the noise and understand how to practically use tools in their work. It’s something I love to do. It also means I’m greeted with a variety of thoughtful questions to my inbox.

I received an interesting message in my DMs this week.

How do you come up with all these ideas?

Here’s the thing…

Finding ideas is not hard. Knowing which ones will be meaningful is.

This carries across many parts of life.

1. To buy or not to buy
2. To learn or not to learn
3. To use AI or not to use AI

How to be smart with AI at work: Ask better questions

Many people ask me how they can use Gen AI tools.

It's the wrong question.

The question/s you want to ask are:

• How can x help me
• What can x help me with
• Why can x help me with this

If you do land on Gen AI tools enhancing your work. Get clear with the 'how' using the framework below.

→ You don't outsource thinking to AI, you outsource the doing

→ You don't delegate everything, you collaborate intelligently

→ You find the mission-critical tasks only you can do

It might sound simple, but that doesn't mean it's easy.

Side note: Never look for problems for tools to solve. Find problems → then source the right tool for the job.

On the topic of Gen AI

Here’s a little preview of the daily discussions I have with fellow humans:

Me: Generative AI can't do that.

Client: That's crap. It's useless!

Me: No, your understanding of how GEN AI works and tool selection for tasks is crap.

Obviously, I didn't say it quite like that.

Many drink the Kool-Aid from social media. They expect Gen AI to do everything.

Why discovery is so important for AI upskilling

A core part of my work with upskilling L&D teams starts with a discovery conversation.

When it comes to AI upskilling these are incredibly revealing for 3 reasons:

1. I get an idea of what they know vs what they think they know about Gen AI
2. Discover what they believe Gen AI can help with at work
3. Unpack what non-AI tech they already have

These 3 things tell me a lot about a team’s knowledge and maturity level.

It's safe to say that number 1 is where so many people fall.

? You can't use a tool intelligently if you don't understand how it works.

Better education = better skills

Gen AI tools have opportunities and limitations.

Spending the last year teaching 300+ students through my online course and working with 20 companies has validated a HUGE revelation for me:

There is a serious misconception about how GEN AI tools work that’s crippling many from maximising them.

The only way to change this is by being more curious about how they work.

Today, tomorrow or never

I’ve always enjoyed the cultural brand of Nike.

This is one of my favourite slogans from a Times Square advert.

This is how I feel about the state of GEN AI training.

It has big opportunities and limitations. But, here's the snag – there's a big gap in AI training.

It's baffling.

You hear lots about GEN AI tools on social, yet very few people are using them in the real world.

Why so? Because you're confused by it.

You don't know if it's going to help you or put you out of a job. I get that. I don't like that feeling either.

The thing is you can't wait to be told "Now is the time to learn about this". That's never going to happen.

You, my friend, need to take charge.

Here's a three-step plan to do that:

???????? 1: ?????????????????? ?????? ??????????????????

Understand what Generative AI can do. Not the gimmicks. The real impactful stuff that enhances your work. Sorry, cat pics are not included. A basic understanding of how this works will help you go far.

???????? 2: ???????????? ???? ??????????????????

Yes, I know. The obvious thing. But, here we are talking about so few doing it. Companies must prioritise AI literacy. Now is not the time to bury your head in the sand.

???????? 3: ???????????? ?? ?????????????? ???? ????????????????????

Create an environment where experimenting with AI tools is encouraged. Share success stories and innovative uses of AI within the organisation. This will inspire others to explore and leverage these technologies in their work. As the famous Nike saying goes, "Just do it".

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If you fancy working with me to become AI-confident.

Enrol for lifetime access to my 2-hour AI crash course .

Take care, friend.

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