You can't go to a news site without seeing something about Artificial Intelligence.  Some people love it. Some people fear it. For many people, it's just an unknown.  

Wiley Publishing recently surveyed 7,000 professionals, both managers and individual contributors to understand their perceptions of AI.  Only 8% of respondents said they were extremely or very knowledgeable about AI. Let's face it. It's new to many people.

In fact, when asked if their organizations were using AI, only one-third said yes. But, when specific examples or descriptions were provided, that number doubled as respondents recognized that AI isn't robots running around doing our work. AI drives your Netflix recommendations, Facebook algorithms, email filters, predictive text, chatbots, fraud detection, healthcare diagnosese, smart home devices, and even your GPS telling you to avoid a traffic jam.

Generally, men in Tech and Finance with higher education levels were more positive about AI, especially if they were in the C-Suite or IT.  On the other hand, women were less positive about AI, especially those in the Arts & Non-Profits or Customer Success roles.  

BIG OH NO!

The groups with the most negative attitude toward AI were Human Resources and Learning & Development Professionals!

Certainly, there are reasons to be concerned. AI could lead to more impersonal and less empathic approaches to employee relations. Relying solely on algorithms and data to make decisions might create less than optimal outcomes when it comes to more sensitive matters like hiring, promotions, or employee grievances. Data and privacy concerns are on everyone's minds. Perhaps HR pros are worried about job security - their own and the security of those employees they support.

But, we can't let fear hold us back from progress!

The more you know, the more you can contribute.

I'm a firm believer that the more knowledgeable you are, the more ideas you'll generate and the more confident you'll feel.  So, here are some facts to boost your thinking:

• At least one-third of workplaces are actively using AI in at least one business function. Furthermore, organizations are actively testing AI across a range of functions to understand its potential impact on performance.

• The most common business functions using AI are service, marketing/sales, product development, supply chain, and manufacturing. HR and Finance seem to have the lowest adoption rates.

• 25% said budget constraints are a significant barrier to AI integration in their organizations. They fear that AI adoption will be complex, costly, and time-consuming. Couple that with the effort associated with getting buy-in from employees, integrating AI won't happen overnight.

The research also shows that when it comes to learning and development, people still crave human interaction.

• 87% said they prefer professional learning to be developed and delivered by a subject matter expert.

• 59% said they prefer instructor led workshops, whether they are in-person or virtual.

On the positive side, 64% of L&D respondents were excited about the potential to use AI to automate administrative tasks. Not only will this improve their efficiency, but it increases their bandwidth to focus their efforts on more value-added activities like strategic thinking, problem solving, instructional design, facilitation, and learning application.

Want to start thinking about AI in L&D?

The powerhouse combination of artificial intelligence with your experience as a learning professional will have a profound impact on the people in your organization. Hop online and start doing some research:

• How AI can create and support unique and personalized learning paths for your workforce - This means no more one-size-fits-all training modules. Imagine a world where each employee receives a customized learning journey, maximizing their potential and boosting overall productivity and personal growth. 

• How gamification creates learner engagement - Who says learning has to be boring? Inject an element of fun and competition into your learning programs with points, badges, leaderboards, Easter eggs, QR code scavenger hunts, and more.

• How to use adaptive testing for feedback and assessments - Get fast feedback with quizzes, assessments, and 360's, all tailored to your organization's culture and your team members' unique needs.

• How can Natural Language Processing simplify the learning process - Give your employees simple ways to interact with learning content and integrate it into the flow of work, making it as easy as getting advice from a colleague.

Think these are far-off, expensive ideas? They're not!

I have the tools right now to help you do all of these things!  Email me at [email protected] to overcome your apprehensions about AI and get on the bandwagon to a more powerful future!