Lauren Ingram

A really critical task is to help employees feel less scared of AI, and one of the steps towards that is making it feel more 'normal'. AI doesn't need to be this lofty, confusing thing, it's already in our everyday products like when Gmail suggests the rest of your sentence - so help your team understand where AI appears in day to day life, before you get them started on AI implementation at scale.

You do not need to outlay huge amounts of money for AI education - in fact you can learn a huge amount totally for free. I would not invest large sums in a qualification which will become outdated quickly, *unless* you have the funds easily available and it's important to you to get a qualification from a well known institution. More important than an official qualification is just understanding the principles of AI and then actually applying it. The majority of workers in any business do not need to understand the difference between machine learning at a broad level and what LLMs are - you just need to know how to make the most of the tools! Go on YouTube, Skillshare, learn from thought leaders on LinkedIn, even learn tactics on TikTok!

Emotional intelligence and people skills will be all we have left if we automate all of the 'work'. So honing your interpersonal skills, how you manage others, how you react in difficult situations - all of that is paramount in what comes next. If you can imagine a situation where all of the work can be done by computers - creating the products, writing the copy, creating all the marketing materials, doing all the transactions, posting off products, whatever it is - then all we have left is the people and their ability to collaborate effectively. So alongside learning about AI and how to make the most of it, you should be focusing everything on your soft skills.

Companies have a duty to upskill their employees in AI, whether or not they are likely to be laid off. For many employees, learning about AI tools and using them effectively will make them more efficient at their jobs, and if they do end up being affected by layoffs, they are better equipped for whatever comes next. Giving them these skills is important for allaying their fears - part of the fearfulness around this tech is simply about not understanding it. If they can understand and harness AI, they will feel less afraid of it.

Networking is just as important as the actual learning about AI. Networking can feel cringeworthy! But talking about these new topics out loud, especially with people who are further along their learning journey, will help solidify your learnings. There are plenty of meetups in most cities dedicated to AI, and open to all knowledge levels. You do not need to be technical for most events, you just need a thirst for knowledge - so bring engaging questions, push yourself to speak to at least 3 people at the event, oh and enjoy the free pizza while you learn :)

If team members are feeling overwhelmed by AI and the sheer speed of change (which is very common for businesses and individuals right now), you need to implement training resources that steer away from the technical and towards the human side of things: - What are the benefits of the tech? - What would be the business benefit of implementing? For most people, technical knowledge of AI is actually unnecessary and can hinder things - what you need is for team members to feel confident and start using the tools. If they feel scared, the technical aspects will increase that feeling of overwhelm.