What single piece of advice would I give a NON TECHNICAL business leader about getting started with AI?

I was asked this question today, during a call with a C-level Business Leader from a large organisation. It dawned on me that many Executives might have the same question, so hopefully this quick article might help guide them on the path to AI nirvana!

For non-technical Business Leaders getting started with AI, the single most important piece of advice is to focus on identifying a specific problem or need within your organization that AI can address and start with a pilot project.

Here’s a step-by-step approach:

1. Identify a Pain Point: Look for repetitive tasks, data-heavy processes, or decision-making areas that could benefit from automation or improved insights.

2. Set Clear Objectives: Define what success looks like. What do you want to achieve with AI? This could be improving efficiency, reducing costs, enhancing customer experience, or gaining better insights.

3. Start Small with a Pilot Project: Choose a manageable project to start with. This allows you to experiment and learn without a significant investment. Pilots can demonstrate value and help in gaining buy-in from stakeholders.

4. Collaborate with AI Experts: Partner with AI consultants or vendors who can provide expertise and guide you through the initial stages. They can help with the technical implementation and ensure the project aligns with your business goals. (If you need some guidance as to what is possible, I am happy to help!)

5. Leverage User-Friendly AI Tools: Use AI platforms that are designed for non-technical users. Many AI tools now come with intuitive interfaces that do not require deep technical knowledge to implement and use effectively.

6. Focus on Data Quality: Ensure you have clean, well-organized data, as this is crucial for any AI initiative. Good data is the foundation of effective AI.

7. Evaluate and Iterate: After the pilot, evaluate the outcomes against your objectives. Learn from the experience, make necessary adjustments, and gradually scale up based on the results.

By starting with a specific problem and a small, controlled project, non-technical leaders can gain hands-on experience with AI, understand its potential and limitations, and build the confidence needed to integrate AI more broadly into their operations.

If you need some guidance as to what is possible, I am happy to help!