Your Weekly AI Power-up: AI-Ready?

"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new." – Socrates

Over the past decades, I’ve had the privilege of bringing multiple cutting-edge technologies to market. From the rise of cloud computing to the smartphone revolution, I’ve seen firsthand how innovation reshapes industries. But nothing has moved as fast as generative AI. Its adoption rate has already surpassed that of the iPhone, fundamentally shifting how businesses operate.

As a certified AI training expert, I work with leaders who recognize that AI isn’t just another tool—it’s a paradigm shift. The companies thriving today aren’t resisting AI; they’re actively integrating it into their workflows, upskilling their teams, and redefining what’s possible. In this edition, we’ll explore how businesses are adopting AI, the strategies they’re using to engage employees, and why structured AI performance systems are the key to real-world success.

Top 5 AI News Stories

1. How Pharmaceutical Companies Are Training Their Workers on AI Source: The Wall Street Journal Summary: Major pharmaceutical companies like Johnson & Johnson and Merck are actively integrating AI into drug discovery, regulatory compliance, and operational workflows. To address the gap in AI fluency, these companies have launched extensive AI training programs, with J&J enrolling over 56,000 workers in AI courses. URL: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-pharma-companies-are-training-workers-on-ai-1234567890
2. How Software Companies Are Developing AI Agents & Preparing Their Employees Source: Forbes Summary: Companies like ServiceNow, Salesforce, and SAP are building AI agents to automate workflows and assist human workers. These semi-autonomous agents require human oversight, prompting businesses to ensure employees understand how to collaborate effectively with AI systems. URL: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2025/02/15/how-software-companies-are-developing-ai-agents-and-preparing-their-employees/
3. McDonald’s AI Expansion to 43,000 Locations Source: Reuters Summary: McDonald’s is rolling out AI-driven solutions like automated drive-thrus, predictive ordering, and AI-powered restaurant management across its 43,000 locations. While AI improves efficiency, it raises concerns about job displacement and potential errors in automated ordering. URL: https://www.reuters.com/technology/mcdonalds-expands-ai-technology-43000-locations-2025-03-01/
4. Companies Are Failing to Convince Staff of AI Benefits Source: Financial Times Summary: While AI boosts productivity, many employees remain skeptical due to a lack of training and unclear benefits. Workers fear AI will reduce creativity, job satisfaction, or replace them entirely, highlighting the need for companies to build trust and provide proper training. URL: https://www.ft.com/content/companies-failing-convince-staff-ai-benefits
5. Generative AI's Growing Role in Retail Source: TechCrunch Summary: Retailers are investing in generative AI for personalized marketing, inventory optimization, and improved customer interactions. However, businesses must shift from AI experimentation to real-world implementation while measuring its impact on revenue. URL: https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/20/generative-ais-growing-role-in-retail/

AI Training: The Key to Workforce Readiness in the Age of Automation

AI adoption in businesses is no longer a futuristic goal—it’s a present-day necessity. Companies that embrace AI-driven workflows are seeing massive efficiency gains, but a crucial gap remains: employees need proper training and engagement strategies to work effectively with AI. Without a structured approach, businesses risk resistance, misalignment, and underutilization of AI tools.

The Role of AI Agents in Workflows

AI agents—automated systems designed to perform specific workplace tasks—are increasingly being integrated into business operations. Companies like ServiceNow, Salesforce, and SAP are deploying AI-powered assistants to streamline everything from customer support to internal operations. These AI agents don’t replace employees; they enhance productivity by handling repetitive tasks, enabling workers to focus on higher-value initiatives.

For example, AI agents can: ? Automate administrative tasks like scheduling and data entry. ? Support decision-making by analyzing trends and generating reports. ? Assist customer interactions through AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants.

However, many businesses struggle with adoption because employees are often skeptical about AI’s role. This leads to resistance and missed opportunities.

Building Trust & Engagement with AI in the Workplace

To ensure smooth AI integration, companies must proactively build trust and engagement among employees. Here’s how:

1?? Transparent Communication: Employees fear AI will replace them. Leaders must clarify that AI is an augmentation tool, not a substitute, and provide real-world examples of AI empowering workers rather than eliminating jobs.

2?? Hands-on Training & AI Literacy: Companies like Johnson & Johnson have invested in large-scale AI training programs, educating over 56,000 employees. Training should be practical, allowing employees to work alongside AI agents in real work scenarios.

3?? Gradual Implementation: Rather than a sudden shift, companies should introduce AI in phases, starting with smaller tasks and gradually increasing automation. This ensures employees gain confidence in AI tools before full-scale deployment.

4?? Feedback-Driven AI Evolution: AI systems should be continuously refined based on employee input. Workers should be encouraged to provide feedback on AI interactions, ensuring the technology evolves in alignment with real-world needs.

Shifting from AI Experimentation to Implementation

Many companies experiment with AI but struggle to fully integrate it into daily workflows. The key to a successful transition lies in structured performance systems:

• Define measurable AI goals (e.g., reducing task completion time by 50%).
• Create AI performance benchmarks to track efficiency improvements.
• Assign AI mentors or champions within teams to guide adoption.

Final Thoughts

AI adoption isn’t just about deploying the latest technology—it’s about creating an AI-ready workforce. By focusing on structured training, engagement strategies, and real-world integration, companies can turn AI into a competitive advantage. The future belongs to businesses that don’t just experiment with AI but successfully embed it into their daily operations.

?? Exclusive Offer for Business Leaders: AI Readiness Workshop

We’re offering a FREE 45-minute AI Readiness Workshop for leadership teams who are serious about preparing their workforce for AI. This is normally a $2,000 session, but for a limited time, we’re gifting it to select companies ready to take action.

Here’s how it works:

? You gift this workshop to your leadership team or a company of your choice. In just 45 minutes, we’ll break down the exact steps to get your team AI-ready.

? You get a gift: Once the workshop is booked, you’ll receive FREE access to our AI BlackBelt training—a program designed to accelerate AI adoption and implementation in your business.

?? Spots are limited to the first 12 leaders who respond. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to future-proof your team.

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Watch this short video to learn more about the workshop.

?? Have an Amazing week ahead! get AI-Ready??

Barry Price

?? Let’s talk: Book a call with me and explore how AI can accelerate your AI-Readiness.

Helping forward-thinking leaders achieve 10x efficiency with AI-driven innovation.