The reality behind artificial intelligence: a strategic approach to AI adoption for mid-market companies

The simple fact is that Big Tech is going to win the AI Arms race, and doomsday scenarios aside, that is a good thing for your business, in that Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Zoom, at al. are going to integrate all of the AI tools into the programmes you are already using.  You will not need to go to ChatGPT because that functionality will be embedded in Windows. You will not need to buy a new video editing software when YouTube provides all the tools within its suite. You won’t need special apps to transcribe your Zoom meetings, because Zoom will have an assistant that does it for you automatically. 

The bottom line is that once AI becomes integrated into the software that everyone already uses, it will become almost invisible to the people who are willing to take the time to use it.  It will be like ‘auto complete’.  Instead, that AI functionality will exist so naturally that we will use it without even thinking about it. This does not mean that you should ignore AI. 

Focus on the following three things:

1. Marketing Implementation.  

While AI will eventually integrate into all aspects of your business, the only ‘ready for prime time’ area right now is marketing, and if your team is not using it, then it is time to move forward with all due haste. 

2. Training Infrastructure.  

Right now, the average worker uses about 10% of the functionality of programmes like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.  Imagine that you had a factory floor and 90% of the machinery sat dormant.  That would be an obvious problem, but the lack of use of functionality in tools like Office 365 are allowed to occur because the inefficiency is not that obvious. This type of nonchalant approach to training people in these basic tools will have to stop, and organisations will have to take VERY seriously the role of their Learning and Development Team’s ability to not only teach people how to use the imbedded AI, but to also maintain an eye on the actual use and proficiency over time.

3. Internal/External AI Cohort. 

While the Marketing Department is likely to be the area that will benefit the most, and the Training Department should get ready to get people AI capable, that doesn’t mean that no one else needs to help your organisation’s arms around AI. 

If you take the three steps outlined above, you can just keep your finger of the pulse of what is happening and feel good that you are not falling behind. If you could have a well-trained employee do a PowerPoint presentation 30 minutes faster, there is a benefit there. It is not going to justify a workforce reduction strategy, but it will free up 30 minutes of that person’s time, which even if it does not lead to increased productivity, might lead to their life just being a little less annoying.  And… the work product is likely to improve, and that should be evident long before any reduction in head count will be.