The Secret to Driving AI Adoption in Enterprise
It's been a wild couple of weeks in the world of AI. New features, products, and announcements are flying at our faces like a toddler's spaghetti.
As an AI geek (I actually prefer "AI Aficionado"), I'm loving it. More things to test! More ways to optimize life!
But here's the problem:
While AI nerds are sprinting ahead, the majority of folks are still at the starting line. Worse, a ton of people are not even in the race at all - they're at the concession stand, squeezing mustard onto soft pretzels.
If you're part of an organization that doesn’t know where to begin with genAI, listen up. I'm about to reveal the secret to what's holding you back and how to fix it.
THE PROBLEM: YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE DRIVING AI ADOPTION
I've seen it time and again.
AI task forces are too often overrun by the techiest of the tech people in your organization.
I’m talking about the machine learning gurus. The IT wizards.
Don't get me wrong - these people are indispensable! Their brilliance shines brightly. The organization would collapse without them. This is absolutely no disrespect.
But here's the thing:
Adopting generative AI has very little in common with the type of digital transformation usually led by IT.
It has WAY more in common with change management.
And that requires leadership, teaching, employee engagement and development, upskilling, etc. It requires people skills. People who are outstanding at driving change. (Not that IT folks don’t have those skills - but it’s not typically why you’re hiring your IT team.)
"But wait," you might say, "this is still tech, right? Don't we need AI experts in charge? Machine learning PhDs who understand neural networks and…"
I’m gonna stop you right there.
This is a huge no. A resounding no. The kind of "no" that echoes through the canyons and across the seven seas (also it feels like there are more than seven seas but maybe not).
Generative AI isn't a tech thing.
It's a people thing.
So who are your People people?
The folks you would put in charge of learning and development? The people you want to be the face of your company? The people who, when they get up in front of the room, everyone knows everything is gonna be okay?
That’s the skill you need out front.
THE TONY ROBBINS PRINCIPLE
Take Tony Robbins, for example. Love him or not, the man has transformed countless lives. He's inspired action, prompted introspection, and reached millions.
How did he do it? By being the world's foremost behavioral scientist? Nope. My guy didn't even go to college.
His secret? He understands change. He knows what triggers it, how to explain it, and how to spur action. In short, he gets people.
If you want to spark a generative AI revolution that will send your team's productivity into the stratosphere, you need to get people excited. You need teachers who can explain AI in a way that finally clicks - like that chemistry teacher who made the periodic table actually interesting.
“But wait!” you cry. “What good are great teachers if they don’t understand generative AI?”
I’m getting to that.
THE SOLUTION: FIND YOUR TEACHERS
When building your AI task force, forget about finding tech whizzes. Instead, look for these qualities:
Excellent teachers
Great communicators
Patient and intellectually curious
People who others listen to and respect
Then have them learn generative AI inside and out.
It’s easier than you think - if you know how to do it.
And the best way to do this is through actual, real training.
Bring in trainers who can explain AI in a way that resonates (I do this, but find someone you trust). With good training, it doesn’t take much. A few hours at most. People just need to get over the initial hump. (And no, I’m not exaggerating. A few hours can do it. I do it all the time.)
Once people start seeing results, the dopamine will kick in and there'll be no turning back.
When you empower your teachers and communicators, they’ll find their way forward.
Listen:
It’s easier to teach a great communicator how to use genAI … than to teach an IT wizard without strong communication skills how teach.
And yes, you can have SOME tech folks on your task force. I was really just trying to make a point here.
TECH STILL MATTERS, BUT...
Now, I'm not saying the technical side of things is irrelevant. Far from it.
We need our tech friends and their magical ways, because there’s a lot of tech stack stuff that has to go on when integrating genAI into a company.
But when it comes to driving adoption?
Choose people based on their ability to teach and inspire, not their coding prowess. If your tech gurus happen to be gifted teachers, fantastic! But their communication ability should be the deciding factor.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Don't get overwhelmed by the breakneck pace of AI advancements. The principles of effective teaching remain the same.
It's not about chasing the latest tech. It's about making people feel comfortable, excited, and empowered to use it.
And here's the kicker: They should feel that way, because they already have everything they need to excel.
So go forth and find your AI evangelists, my friends. The concession stand is closing. It’s time to get everyone onto the track.
AI NEWS OF THE WEEK
Recall
Microsoft has announced big changes to a future PC: They will come equipped with AI-powered search feature, Recall, that will track and recall everything you've seen and done on your laptop. Let’s see if folks use it.
Safety Dance
OpenAI's superalignment team, tasked with ensuring AI systems remain safe and aligned with human values, mostly resigned this week. Jan Leike co-led the team and claimed OpenAI prioritized "shiny products" over safety.
Nvidia Can’t Stop
Will this thing ever come down? Nvidia announced a 462% increase in profits year-over-year. What do you even do with that information?
Generative AI Tips
It seems strange, but one of the best uses for ChatGPT, and one of the best ways to get newbies started, is to talk to it personally about something bothering you.
I’ve done this before, when I’m feeling down, or unreasonably jealous of somebody, or just…whatever, I use the voice function to chat with it.
You would be shocked at how empathetic and helpful it is - but importantly, it can lead to more conversations. That’s what this is all about - getting folks to use it, by any means necessary.
