The ROI of Gen AI Education is PROFIT.

Generative AI is transforming how we work, but only organizations who invest in their employees will truly unlock its revenue-raising potential. Studies show that generative AI and human collaboration drives major gains, like 35% higher productivity and 40% lower costs. But without the right training and communication, it breeds anxiety and frustration instead.

Failing to communicate openly and transparently breeds uncertainty as workers without a clear implementation pathway are left fearing generative AI. What happens is an avoidable, but devastating, cascade of events that will cost companies in revenue, retention, and respect. Without understanding the role generative AI plays in a new future of work, morale sinks, goals stall out, and employees spend more time browsing the LinkedIn jobs board than they are upskilling.

Failing to have appropriate subject matter and industry experts means companies will be losing critical guardrails before they've even deployed their first model.

While generative AI models hold great promise, they require extensive guidance and oversight to produce accurate, unbiased outputs that align with organizational values and regulations. This is where experienced employees become invaluable in the integration process with their deep institutional knowledge and subject matter expertise.

By investing in generative AI training and certifications, and providing workers with psychological safety and support, organizations can get the best out of their teams as they grow into their changing role.

Onboarding and Training Unlock AI Potential

Implementing any new technology can be daunting, but comprehensive training and clear communication are key to seamless adoption, and failing to incorporate learning paths can lead to quality concerns. Veteran staff are best equipped to audit AI systems, identify potential flaws in the training data or model logic, and provide critical feedback to enhance performance. Without transparent, comprehensive training opportunities, staff will quickly be looking for the exits in the face of an overwhelming technology shift. Failing to have appropriate subject matter and industry experts means companies will be losing critical guardrails before they've even deployed their first model.

The end result of successfully integrating these AI technologies...is teams able to deliver 5% or more greater revenue growth.

Recent research shows employees who completed onboarding courses on integrating AI tools demonstrated 30% increase in skill development in leveraging the technology’s capabilities compared to untrained staff. With a solid understanding of how AI can enhance specific workflows, and as experts in their industries and domains, these workers utilize the tools faster, and with greater efficiency, allowing them to drive value sooner.

Rather than perceiving AI as a threat, trained employees can identify areas for collaborative problem-solving. Importantly, they understand these technologies are designed to augment human skills, not replace them.

AI Boosts Productivity and Profit

Recent studies in the industrial sector demonstrate the immense value of human-AI collaboration. Companies leveraging generative AI tools saw 35% productivity gains as the technology automated repetitive, low-value tasks. With previously manual work now being completed in part or fully by a large language model, employees redirect their energies to responsibilities requiring a human touch.

Additionally, the research found a 20% increase in job satisfaction when AI handled tedious busywork. Employees felt less burnt out and more empowered to utilize their skills on higher-impact work that drove greater personal and professional value. Improved productivity and satisfaction resulted in a 40% reduction in costs through smarter task allocation between humans and AI. This optimized approach enables businesses to operate with greater efficiency and effectiveness.

Moreover, studies at enterprise organizations where generative AI tools and workflows are being implemented show increases beyond just productivity gains. Workers are seeing improvements in areas like stress management, personal confidence, and job satisfaction, with some organizations seeing these metrics increase by upwards of 35%, according to a recent Accenture report.

The end result of successfully integrating these AI technologies, when coupled with proper change management programs focused on training and upskilling workers, providing psychological safety, and transparency around how roles will evolve, is teams ultimately able to deliver 5% or more greater revenue growth. But that successful integration and change management is critical - workers need to be brought along the journey through training and communication, and given the tools and environment to thrive alongside AI.

Overcoming AI-Anxiety

However, achieving optimal human-AI collaboration requires acknowledging employees’ valid concerns. Change is unsettling, and people reasonably worry about how AI will shift their role, with increases in AI-induced anxiety causing impacts to both physical and mental wellbeing. Purposefully building in psychological safety for candid discussions is essential for an employee's health and wellbeing, as well as providing space for employees to discuss the evolution of their workflows, and how AI is impacting their role.

A recent Ernst&Young survey of workers shows that they are clamoring for guidance and understanding how they can effectively, legally, and ethically use these tools.

• 81% want best practices on responsible AI to be routinely shared
• 80% want more AI training/upskilling opportunities
• 77% want senior leaders to promote the responsible/ethical use of AI

The onus is on leadership to train their workers as rigorously as they train their models, on how their industry, role, and responsibilities are shifting in the wake of the techtonic earthquake. An AI-fluent workforce is key for sustainable growth powered by safe, ethical systems, while constructing robust education frameworks will enable teams to unlock AI’s full potential.

The People are the Promise

As organizations continue integrating AI, the key ingredients driving successful adoption are continuous education, psychological safety, and cultural trust. Investing in robust training frameworks pays dividends through increased productivity and innovation. Constructing a culture focused on transparency and empathy fosters seamless adoption as roles evolve.

And knowledgeable, empowered employees are best equipped to provide critical oversight of AI systems, ensuring alignment with ethical values. With people as partners, AI can transform raw data into engaging experiences that drive measurable gains across the enterprise.

The future of work offers exhilarating promise tempered by understandable apprehension. But by proactively upskilling staff on how to best collaborate with AI, nurturing a trusted culture, and reinforcing human ingenuity, businesses can build next-generation teams who thrive at the cutting edge. The people are the promise – educate, empower and invest in them to fully realize AI’s potential.