Employees Can Remain Competitive in the AI Revolution

Educating Companies about the Future of AI

Late last year, Dell Technologies appointed Jeff Boudreau as the company’s first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. A significant part of his brief was to enlighten approximately 120,000 employees on the nuances and potential of this rapidly advancing technology.

Dell is not alone in this endeavor. Many vast corporations such as Colgate-Palmolive have similar initiatives in the pipeline, reflecting the growing interest among employees in learning more about AI. A LinkedIn survey revealed that four out of five workers wish to know more about integrating AI into their profession.

Upskilling Workers in AI

Many top enterprises, such as Amazon, Cisco, and Accenture, are increasingly investing in upskilling their employees in AI. They are also examining the effects of AI on various information and communication technology jobs to provide actionable training insights.

Colgate-Palmolive kickstarted its AI education with a brief training session spanning 20 minutes. This session dealt with the basics of Generative AI and set forth company regulations concerning data handling and AI usage. The company later rolled out an array of more extensive hourly courses that covered topics like AI ethics and conversation model querying.

Focus on AI and Data Skills

Notably, Dell and pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson have also taken measures to educate their employees about AI. At Johnson & Johnson, about 20,000 workers have already undergone an introductory training course in Generative AI. Dell is in the process of introducing AI fundamentals coursework, which all employees are encouraged to pursue.

Also, other firms such as Cargill and Atlassian, recognize the pressing need to upskill their workforce in AI and related data skills to stay competitive and drive customer satisfaction.

The Importance of AI Literacy

Addressing the importance of AI literacy, Rajeev Rajan, CTO of software maker Atlassian, noted its universality. He asserted that everyone, particularly engineers, would need to understand and apply AI or face potential redundancy or inefficiency.

With an AI revolution on the horizon, many companies are seeking to develop AI skills internally rather than hiring new talent. According to Kian Katanforoosh, CEO of upskilling platform Workera, most companies outside of the tech industry are moving in this direction due to AI’s impact on productivity.

Increasing AI Literacy for Cybersecurity

With an estimated 4 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs worldwide, the need for AI literacy in this sector is increasing. As AI-related threats are gaining potency, the industry needs highly skilled individuals with an understanding of AI.

In conclusion, AI is dramatically transforming the way companies operate and the skills they require from their workforce. Be it Dell, Amazon, or Colgate-Palmolive, the emphasis is increasingly on building significant AI literacy and skills among existing employees to meet the future head-on.