As the world of technology continues to evolve, so does the way companies do business.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a growing trend in today’s market that has helped businesses both to benefit from increased efficiency and cost savings.
But many workers are worried that it may replace their jobs – according to the World Economic Forum, about 85 million jobs globally could be replaced by automation by 2025. While it is worrying to some, it is also an opportunity for workers to reskill or retrain so they will remain competitive over the long-term.
It is also an opportunity to embrace AI, and start exploring how to incorporate AI-enabled productivity tools in your work. Here are 4 tips for you to get started:
Convincing your colleagues to try AI out
While some may be wary of change, the potential benefits that AI can bring to a workplace outweigh any potential drawbacks.
To convince your colleagues to try out AI, focus on their positives in terms of cost-effectiveness, precision and speed. Explain that introducing an AI-driven workflow can automate certain tasks, freeing up time for more valuable and complex projects.
The most careful way to approach it is through baby steps. Let your colleagues know that by monitoring and experimenting on it slowly, they could get used to a new work flow, and manage any risks as they go along.
Figure out what needs AI assistance and start small
Let’s say you are a manager of a busy marketing team. You have back-to-back meetings, but you don’t always capture what’s being discussed during the meetings. And your team doesn’t have time to write down meeting minutes, or transcribe a meeting’s recording. Furthermore, transcribing is a mundane activity, and team members are better off focusing on more high-value assignments.
You can use AI tools to transcribe meetings and interview recordings at just a small fee a month. This saves plenty of time and effort, leaving your team to focus on more pressing tasks.
For larger implementations, it is best to consult your team on what gaps there are, and experiment with basic AI software to see what suits you. Don’t forget to consult your IT department on using AI tools – they are familiar with your company’s IT framework, so they could make recommendations on software compatibility.
Don’t be intimidated
Utilising AI tools can often seem intimidating, especially to the uninitiated.
To start, familiarise yourself with the AI tool and its interface so that you understand all of its features and capabilities. Play around with the options and customisation settings to get the most out of the tool. Many types of AI software offer trial versions for a limited period for this very purpose.
AI requires human involvement to be truly effective
Those who are concerned about automation’s increasing role should note that people are still an essential part of the development and the use of AI.
Without oversight from humans, AI would be unable to learn, understand and respond to complex tasks. It requires humans to monitor and check for the quality of the AI-generated product.
For instance, AI-enabled transcription software may not be as precise when it comes to churning transcripts from audio. Sometimes, the audio may not be clear, or the speaker does not enunciate his words properly. In such cases, AI needs human involvement to produce a cleaner, more accurate result.
Therefore, AI cannot reach its full potential without people assisting in its development and guiding its applications in responsible ways.
