Unlocking the Potential of genAI: The Key to AI Success Lies in Workforce Education

AI Workforce Acquisition and Education: Key to Successful genAI Implementation

Source: Computerworld

Building AI teams and educating other workers on AI concepts are crucial for achieving the efficiency and productivity benefits promised by genAI tools. Companies across various industries are adopting generative artificial intelligence (genAI) tools to stay competitive. However, according to a survey conducted by Harris in October, knowledge and education of employees on large-scale language models and genAI tools remain the biggest barrier to proper implementation.

The Importance of Education and Upskilling

While genAI is being widely adopted, effectively harnessing its potential and achieving return on investment (ROI) is becoming increasingly challenging. Surprisingly, despite 72% of companies conducting AI education for their employees, knowledge barriers still persist. Carm Taglienti, Chief Data Officer at Insight Enterprises, a technology consulting firm, expressed astonishment at the survey results, stating that many people have received education but have not learned anything.

The majority of business leaders have taken on the task of defining the ROI of genAI. However, the consideration of implementation costs, such as technological debt from outdated infrastructure, initial financial investments, and ongoing maintenance expenses, amounted to only 15%. The lack of investment in the education and upskilling of internal teams is noteworthy.

Employee Education on AI and Big Data utilization ranked third in the priority list for technology education in companies for the next five years. According to a survey by the World Economic Forum, 42% of companies prioritize employee education in these areas.

Effective AI Team Building

Building an AI team requires a holistic approach. Understanding the organization’s goals and having a desire for innovation and dedication to AI efforts are crucial. Corey Haines, the founder and president of IT training company Skillable, emphasizes the importance of understanding purpose and objectives before assembling the right team.

The key roles in an AI team include data scientists, AI software engineers, AI managers or leaders, AI security officers, prompt engineers, and legal consultants. These roles provide essential specialized knowledge and perspectives necessary for effective and responsible implementation.

The Growing Importance of Prompt Engineering

Prompt engineering is one of the fastest-growing career skills for both technical and non-technical professionals. It involves writing and refining text queries or instructions in large-scale language models (LLMs) to obtain the best responses from genAI tools. Prompt engineering is expected to be included in application engineering and software developer career streams.

While cloud service providers are expected to offer prompt engineering services, initial enterprise adoption may be limited due to incomplete contextual data and limited experience. However, online education providers like Udemy, Coursera, and Code Academy offer specialized courses in prompt engineering to support individuals in enhancing their skills in this field.

The Importance of Security and Governance

Security remains a top concern for business leaders, with 38% citing it as a barrier. Establishing an AI governance team and developing frameworks and safeguards are crucial to ensure that AI implementation does not cause harm. For example, Blue Shield in California has developed an AI governance team composed of members from IT, legal, and HR groups.

Enhancing Employee Capabilities for the Future

As the salaries of employees with AI skills increase by up to 40% compared to non-AI employees, companies are making efforts to hire employees with AI expertise. Upskilling employees through practical training promotes skill mastery and is the most crucial way for IT professionals to prepare for the future and for companies to future-proof themselves.

Conclusion:

Acquiring and educating an AI workforce is crucial for successful genAI implementation. By investing in education, upskilling, and building diverse AI teams, companies can maximize the potential of AI technology and achieve the promised benefits.

(News source: Computerworld)