AI Adoption_

The transcription discusses the different types of individuals in the workplace in relation to their proficiency and use of AI. It starts with AI skeptics who either don't use AI or have had a bad experience with it. The next group is AI novices who have tried AI but haven't fully integrated it into their workflow. They struggle with effective prompting. AI experimenters are willing to try AI but feel overwhelmed with the abundance of tools available. AI practitioners use AI regularly and are starting to see productivity benefits. They actively seek out new ways to use AI and improve their skills. AI experts are the power users who have a deep understanding of AI tools and receive support from their companies. The transcription emphasizes the importance of companies creating an environment that encourages and supports the effective use of AI. Hey everyone, and welcome to the Deep Dive. Today we're diving head first into the world of AI in the workplace. Exciting stuff. It really is. And you know, we've been hearing so much about AI agents lately, even Microsoft is saying their AI agents could save companies something like $50 million a year. It's a big number. I mean, it's incredible, right? But it makes you wonder, like, what's the reality here? Yeah, that's the big question, isn't it? I mean, the potential of AI is definitely huge, but the truth is we're still really just at the beginning. You know, we're in those early stages of figuring out how to use it effectively. Yeah. For our deep dive today, we're gonna be looking at the AI Proficiency Report. Okay. It's a brand new study that surveyed over 5,000 knowledge workers, which is a pretty big sample size. That's a lot of people. It is, it is. And what's really interesting about this report is it doesn't just focus on whether or not people are using AI, it goes deeper. You know, it looks at knowledge, prompting skills, basically how prepared the workforce really is to use AI in a way that actually makes a difference. So not just are using AI, but are using it well. Exactly. I love that. And I think that's where it gets really fascinating. I'm really curious to see what they found. Me too. The report actually breaks down workers into five different, they call them AI types. Yes. Starting from AI skeptics and going all the way to AI experts. It's a whole spectrum. It is. Yeah. And today, we're gonna kind of break down each of those types, see what sets them apart. Right. And you can kind of follow along and see where you fit in. Exactly. It's all about understanding these different levels of proficiency. Where do you stand right now with AI? And what can you do to maybe, you know, up your game a little bit? Level up. All right, so let's start with those AI skeptics. Okay, so the skeptics, these are the people who are either not using AI at all, or maybe they tried it and have, you know, a bad experience that kind of turned them off to the whole thing. They might be wary of it, anxious about what AI could mean for their jobs, or maybe they just don't really buy into the hype. Yeah, I can see that. I mean, I think change can be a little scary for anybody, right? Especially when it comes to technology that feels so new and powerful, like AI. Absolutely. And it's understandable to have those concerns. Yeah. But what's really interesting is the report actually found that a lot of these skeptics, they work in companies that don't have a clear AI policy in place. Interesting. So it's like they're being handed this powerful new tool, but they don't have any instructions on how to use it safely, or even if they're allowed to use it. Yeah. That makes sense. That would make people a little hesitant, right? Like, wait a minute, am I even supposed to be doing this? Exactly. Okay, so that's the skeptics. What about the next group? All right, so next up we have the AI novices. Okay. These are the folks who have, you know, dipped their toes in the water a little bit. They've used AI here and there, but it's not a regular part of their workflow yet. And they're not really seeing those big productivity gains that AI can offer. And one of the key reasons for that is they haven't quite mastered the whole prompting thing. Prompting. You know, I feel like I'm hearing that word everywhere these days, but I think it's one of those things that maybe not everybody understands. It's become a bit of a buzzword, yeah. It has. Can you just break it down for us? Like, what is prompting? Sure. So prompting is basically the art of talking to AI in a way that it understands. It's all about giving it clear and concise instructions so it can do what you want it to do. So how you talk to the AI matters. It really does. Think of it like, you know, giving directions to a friend. Okay. But your friend is very literal. Oh. If you're vague or if you use language that's kind of ambiguous, they're probably gonna get lost. Yeah. But if you give them really precise step-by-step instructions, then they're much more likely to reach the destination. Right. It's like speaking a different language almost. It kind of is. It's like the language of AI. Okay, so these novices haven't quite mastered that AI language yet. Not quite, no. But they're on their way. Okay, so they're the novices. What about the next group? All right. So moving along, we've got the AI experimenters. Ooh, I like that. Experimenters. These are the people who are really diving in. They're exploring. They're using AI maybe a few times a month. But it hasn't become a daily habit for them yet. And they're starting to grasp the basics of prompting, but they haven't quite mastered the nuances so they're not getting those consistent, big productivity gains yet. So they're curious. They're willing to try things out. Yes. But maybe they're still hitting a little bit of a wall. Maybe. When it comes to really making it a valuable part of their work. It can be a bit of a learning curve. Yeah. So what's holding them back, do you think? The report highlights that a lot of experimenters, even though they're enthusiastic, they do feel a bit overwhelmed. Yeah, it's a whole new world. It is. It's like stepping into a whole new world. There are so many tools out there. It's intimidating. It can be, yeah. Especially if you don't have a lot of guidance. And that's exactly the issue, isn't it? A lot of these experimenters, they're kind of left to figure it out on their own. Right. They don't have a lot of support from their companies. So they have the drive, but they might be missing like the map. A roadmap. Yeah, to really get where they want to go. It's like having a car, but no GPS. Exactly. You know, you might get there eventually, but it's gonna be a lot harder. A lot of wrong turns. Okay, so that's the experimenters. Let's move on to the AI practitioners. All right, so with the practitioners, this is where we start to see AI really making an impact. Okay. These are the people who are using AI at least once a week, sometimes even more. Wow. And they're starting to see some real productivity benefits. They've got a pretty good grasp of prompting. Okay. And they're figuring out how to use AI to make their work easier and get better results. So they're not just playing around anymore. They're actually using it as a tool. Exactly, yeah. To get work done. So what makes them different from, say, the experimenters? I think what sets them apart is that they're really committed to learning. They're actively seeking out new ways to use AI, refining their prompting skills, trying out different tools. So they're not just using it. They're always trying to get better at it. Exactly. They're constantly evolving. And the ones who are really invested. Yes. I like that. But even the practitioners are running into some obstacles. A lot of them, they don't have access to company-deployed large language models, or LLMs, as they're often called. You just said LLMs, but I realize not everybody might know what that is. Can you give us a quick definition? Of course. So LLMs, those are basically the brains behind a lot of the AI tools we use. They've been trained on massive amounts of data, and they're capable of doing all sorts of amazing things, like generating text, translating languages, writing different kinds of creative content. They're really powerful. Wow. Okay, so because these practitioners often don't have access to those company-deployed LLMs, they're having to rely on those free versions. Yeah, unfortunately. Maybe aren't as powerful. Maybe have some security risks. Exactly, and that really limits their ability to get the most out of AI. Right, so the company's kind of holding them back a little bit there. In a way, yeah. Okay, interesting. All right, so let's move on to the final group, kind of the elite group here, the AI experts. Right, so the experts, these are the power users. Okay. They are the masters of prompting. Nice. They really understand the ins and outs of all these different AI tools. Wow. They're confident in their abilities. Okay. They're seeing huge time savings. I wanna be an AI expert. Right, who doesn't? So what sets them apart? What makes an AI expert? One of the big things is that they tend to have a lot of support from their companies. Oh, that makes sense. They work in environments where AI is not only accepted, but it's encouraged. Okay. It's part of the culture. Right. They have access to the best tools. They get training. Right. And their companies really promote this culture of experimentation and innovation with AI. So it's not just the individual skill. Right. It's also the company really getting behind it. Absolutely, and I think that highlights how important it is for companies to create this environment where people feel empowered to use AI effectively. I love that. Okay, so we've met all five of our AI types now. The whole spectrum. It is a spectrum. And it's so fascinating to see how each of these groups kind of interacts with AI differently, what their comfort level is. Yeah. How they're actually putting it to work. Absolutely, and now the big question is, where do you fit in? Are you a skeptic, a novice, an experimenter, a practitioner, or maybe even an expert? Yeah, think about it. Where do you fall on that spectrum? And understanding your own level of AI proficiency is really the first step. It is. To kind of leveling up. Right. And preparing yourself for this future of work. And that's exactly what we're going to dive into in the next part of our deep dive. Ooh, can't wait. We're going to be talking about the actual benefits of being proficient with AI. And we'll be looking at how companies can actually help their employees thrive in this AI-driven world. All right, stay tuned. We'll be right back. All right, so we've met our five AI types. Yeah, from those just starting out to those AI gurus. Exactly. But I think the big question on everyone's mind is, why should I care about all of this? It's a good question. And I think the report actually has some really compelling answers. Okay, good, I'm all ears. It goes beyond just, you know, the buzzwords and the hype. Right. And it actually looks at what are the concrete benefits of being proficient with AI? Okay, let's get down to it. What's the payoff? Well, the biggest one, the one that really jumps out, is time savings. We're talking serious time savings. The report found that AI experts, they're saving an average of almost a day and a half every week. Wait, so they're getting like an extra weekend day. Basically, yeah. Every week, sign me up. But how are they doing that? What are they using AI for to save that much time? It all comes down to those prompting skills we were talking about. Okay. Experts, they've figured out how to use AI to automate a lot of those tasks. Right. That used to take up so much time. Like drafting emails, summarizing long documents, doing research, even generating basic code. And they're also using it to analyze data. You know, spot trends, make better decisions. Things that would take, you know, a human a lot longer to do manually. So it's not just about like working faster. Right. It's also about freeing up that mental energy to focus on the things that really require huge creativity problem solving. Exactly. That's where the real magic happens. I can see why they're getting so much more done. Now, you know, I've heard some people express this anxiety about AI, like, is AI gonna take my job? Right. That's a common fear. Does the report talk about that at all? It does. And it makes a really interesting point. It says, the more comfortable you are with AI, the more you know how to use it, the less you have to fear it. So it's like, instead of being afraid of AI, you should be embracing it. Yeah. Because it can actually make you even better at your job. Exactly. It becomes a tool that empowers you rather than a threat. I like that. Okay, so we've talked about individual proficiency, right? Right. But the report also talks about company strategy, right? It does. Yeah. And it identifies four key decisions that companies are facing. Okay. That can really make or break their success with AI. Okay, let's break this down. What's the first one? The first one is all about deploying an AI platform, which you would think would be kind of a no-brainer. Right, if you're serious about AI. Exactly. But the report actually found that a whopping 82% of employees don't have access to a company-provided LLM. Whoa, that's a lot of people. It is. Who are basically being left to fend for themselves. Right, so they're having to rely on free versions, which maybe aren't as good, maybe have some security risks. So even if a company says, we're all about AI, they might not actually be giving their employees the tools to succeed. Exactly, it's like saying go learn to swim, but not providing a pool. Exactly. Okay. Okay, what was that second decision point? The second one is all about clear communication. Companies need to have a clear AI strategy and a policy. Makes sense. And what they found is that companies that don't have a clear policy, they tend to have much lower AI proficiency across the board. Well, yeah, so trying to build something without instructions, right? Exactly. And employees, they need to know where the company stands on this. What's allowed, what's not allowed, how does it all fit together? Transparency is key. Yeah. Okay, what about the third decision point? All right, this one is really interesting. It focuses on frontline managers. I'm curious about this one. What did they find about managers? Well, the report found that unsupportive managers can really hinder a team's proficiency with AI. Wow, so even if the company has a great platform. Right. A clear policy. Look at that. If the manager's not on board. They can really hold people back. That's interesting. Why do you think that is? It's probably a mix of things. I mean, some managers, maybe they haven't had the training themselves. Right. So they're not sure about AI. They're a little bit resistant. Yeah, or maybe they're worried about their own jobs. Could be, yeah. Or maybe they just don't see how AI can actually benefit their team. Yeah, it's about having that vision. It is. It's about being a champion for AI. Totally. Okay, so that's number three. What about the fourth decision? Okay, so the fourth decision is about providing practical, hands-on training. Okay. Specifically on prompting to all employees, not just managers. And we talked about prompting earlier. But just to remind everyone. Right. Why is it so important? Because if you don't know how to communicate with AI. Right. You're not gonna get very far. It's like you're trying to speak to someone who doesn't speak your language. Exactly. You're gonna get a lot of blank stares. Right. So companies need to really focus on those practical skills. Not just the theory of AI. Right, exactly. But how do you actually use it? Exactly, yeah. It's all about putting that knowledge into action. Okay, so we've looked at the individual and the company level. What about different industries? Right, so not surprisingly, the report found that language intensive industries like software development and consulting. Okay. They're really ahead of the curve when it comes to AI. That makes sense. If you're working with language all the time. Right. You're gonna see those opportunities to use AI more easily. Exactly, yeah. They're getting the most value out of it and their employees are generally more proficient. Makes sense. What about different job levels? So interestingly, they found that senior employees tend to be more proficient with AI. While individual contributors, those are the folks who are maybe a little more hands on in their roles. Right, right. They tend to be more skeptical. What do you think that is? Any ideas? I think part of it might be just exposure. AI pilots often start with leadership. Makes sense. So senior employees, they get that early access to the tools and the training and that can leave more junior employees feeling a little bit left out. Yeah, like they're missing out. Exactly. And when people feel uncertain, they tend to be more skeptical. That makes sense. So it's important for companies to make sure everyone feels included in this AI journey. Absolutely. It's about bringing everyone along, not just the leadership team. Okay, what about company size? Does that matter? This one surprised me. The report found that company size didn't actually seem to have a big impact. Really? Yeah. I would have thought, you know, bigger companies, more bureaucracy. Right. Maybe it's harder to get everyone on board. You would think so, but it seems like it's more about the mindset than the actual size of the company. So it's about whether the company is really embracing this change. Exactly, whether they're willing to invest the time and resources to make it work. I love that. It's about being adaptable, no matter how big or small you are. Okay, so we've talked about where we are now. What about the future? Right. The report makes some bold predictions about where things are headed. I'm always fascinated by these kinds of predictions. It's like peering into a crystal ball. A little bit, yeah. Trying to see what the world's gonna look like. Exactly, and one of the most eye-opening predictions is that they think over 50% of those LLM deployments, they're actually gonna fail in the next 12 months. Wait, more than half? More than half, yeah. Why do they think so many companies are gonna struggle? They say it's mainly because of a lack of preparation. Companies are rushing to implement AI, but they're not investing enough in training their employees, building the right infrastructure, making sure everyone's on board with the changes. So it's like you said, right, you can have the best technology in the world, but if people don't know how to use it, it's not gonna do any good. It's gonna be a wasted investment. Okay, so that's a little bit sobering, but what about the companies that do get it right? The report says that the real winners, the ones who are gonna come out on top, are going to be what they call AI-native companies. That's interesting. What does that even mean? So these are companies that have fully integrated AI into their DNA. Okay. They don't see it as just a technology. They see it as a fundamental part of how they do business. So it's like a mindset shift. It is. It's not just about having the tools. Right. It's about how you think about work. Exactly. They're investing in training, they're building their workflows around AI, they're empowering everyone to use it effectively. So what's their advice? How do you become one of these AI-native companies? They say start small, start with those language-intensive functions where AI can have an immediate impact. Get some quick wins. Okay. Share those success stories, show people what's possible. Yeah, build that momentum. Exactly. Yeah. And they also say HR needs to play a big role in this. Okay, HR, interesting. Yeah, they need to be upskilled. Okay. So they can lead these AI initiatives, address people's concerns. Yeah, because there are going to be some anxieties. There are, absolutely. And HR can really help to smooth that transition. Right. What about training for everybody else, not just HR? Yeah, they say it's essential to extend that AI training to everyone. Okay. Not just leadership. Right. Because that's how you close that proficiency gap, right? Yeah, make sure everyone has the skills to succeed. Exactly. And they talk about this concept of shadow AI. Have you heard of that? I have heard of shadow AI. It's a little bit concerning. It is, yeah. It's basically when employees are using AI tools that haven't been approved by the company. Right, they're going rogue. Exactly. And that can lead to all sorts of problems like security risks, data breaches. Yeah, it's risky. It is. So companies need to be proactive. Okay. Create clear policies, give people access to secure tools. Right, so it's not just about saying no to AI. Right. It's about giving people guidance and guardrails. Exactly. And when it comes to training, it needs to be hands-on. Practical. Practical, yes. Not just theory, but how to actually use these tools. Give people those real-world skills. Okay, so we've covered a lot of ground here. We have. From the five AI types to the benefits of proficiency. Right. The importance of company strategy and even those predictions for the future. Yeah, it's a lot to take in. It is. Yeah. But it's all really fascinating and important stuff. It is. And it paints a really interesting picture of this AI-powered world that we're all moving into. Wow, we've covered so much ground in this deep dive. You know, we've talked about the different AI types, the benefits of being good with AI, how important company strategy is, and even what the future might hold. But I bet you're thinking, okay, this is all really interesting, but what does it mean for me? That's the question. It is. So let's get practical. Like, what can our listeners do right now to make sure they're not left behind in all of this? Well, I think the first thing is to take charge of your own AI journey. Don't wait for your company to, you know, offer training or resources. There's so much you can do on your own. That's true. There are tons of free courses online, articles, online communities. You can start building those skills today. And you can really learn at your own pace, too. Exactly. And don't be afraid to just experiment, you know? Download some tools, play around with them, see what works for you. Totally. The more you play with it, the more comfortable you'll get. I remember when I first started experimenting with AI, I was a little intimidated. But the more I used it, the more I realized, it's actually pretty user-friendly. Once you get the hang of it. And as you're experimenting, really focus on those prompting skills we were talking about. Yeah, those are key. They are, because the better you get at communicating with AI, the better your results are going to be. It's like learning a new language. The more fluent you are, the more you can do. The more you can accomplish. What other advice would you give to someone just starting out on their AI journey? I would say, find real-world problems that you can solve with AI. Good advice. Don't just learn about it in the abstract. Apply it. You know, apply it to your work, your hobbies, your daily life. Think about those tasks that take up a lot of your time and think, could AI help me with this? Make it relevant to your own life. Exactly. And I think it's also important to stay informed. This field is changing so rapidly. Keep up with the latest trends, the new tools, the best practices. Yeah, it's constantly evolving. It is. There are so many great newsletters, podcasts. Right, conferences, webinars. All sorts of ways to stay on top of things. Exactly, yeah, just stay curious. And at the end of the day, it's important to remember AI is a tool. It's not here to replace us. It's here to help us. So what are some of those human skills that you think are going to be really important in this world where AI is everywhere? I think creativity is going to be huge. Critical thinking, problem solving, emotional intelligence. Yeah, those things AI can't do. Exactly. Those are the things that make us uniquely human. Right, that's what sets us apart. And those are the skills that are going to be in high demand. I totally agree. So as we wrap up this deep dive, any final thoughts for our listeners? You know, I would just say, approach AI with a sense of optimism and curiosity. It really does have the potential to change things for the better, both for individuals and for society as a whole. I love that. It's not something to be afraid of. It's something to be excited about. Exactly. Well, thank you for joining us today on this deep dive into the world of AI in the workplace. Yeah, thanks for having me. It's been such a fascinating conversation. And for all of you listening out there, keep learning, keep exploring, and keep diving deep into this amazing world of AI.