7 Keys to Getting Your Organization AI Ready

AI is transforming organizations and professional productivity. We are only at the beginning of this journey. AI will only become more important. Over 80% of businesses are using or plan to use AI, and 85% of employees say they need training on AI.

Businesses need a plan to get their organization AI-ready. Most of the businesses that I’ve talked to about AI are transitioning from looking at AI as an ad hoc tool to evaluating it as an organizational strategy. While there is a lot of talk about AI replacing human jobs, the reality is that AI isn’t likely to replace many jobs. People and businesses that use AI will likely replace businesses and people that don’t.

How can you unlock the power of AI for your organization? There are seven areas to address to get your organization AI-ready.

1. Technical Infrastructure

The organization needs the technical infrastructure to succeed. This means dedicated resources evaluating AI technology (for accuracy, security, and relevance) and integrating them into the organization.

Organizations need the technological capabilities and resources to effectively integrate AI. If there are plans to create custom applications with AI, the organization needs a scalable cloud computing environment. If the organization is using off-the-shelf AI tools, they need strong data security and privacy policies and processes.

2. Data Readiness

Generative AI is powerful, but it needs to be trained. Training happens with data. For example, I can ask ChatGPT or other AI tools to create a business plan, but it likely won’t be very good. If I train ChatGPT with data from my previous five strategic plans and the results, it can create a much better strategic plan.

Depending on how an organization plans to use AI, they’ll need different data to train the AI. Having the data accessible, organized, and ready to train a GPT is important to unlock the potential. If your business plans to use off-the-shelf AI products like ChatGPT, it is important to determine if and how confidential information can be shared.

3. Workforce Skills

Your organization needs the skills to effectively use AI to unlock the benefits. Studies show that 70% of professionals using AI haven’t told their employer. The reality is your team is already using AI.

AI is powerful, but only when used properly. Employees need training on prompt engineering and a strong understanding of the types of tasks AI is and isn’t good for. They need support to get the most out of AI.

Additionally, AI has limitations and risks. Employees need to be trained on these risks (like bias and accuracy) to properly evaluate the outputs they get from AI.

In 2024, all businesses should have mandatory AI training for their organization to ensure the successful adoption of AI.

4. Organizational Culture

Adoption of any new technology requires a culture that is willing to adopt new technologies. A change management plan may be required to support the organization in embracing AI. Teams may need leadership support and encouragement to unlock the power of AI.

Evaluate your culture for your AI readiness. Is your organization leaning forward? Are innovators rewarded?

5. Strategic Alignment

AI shouldn’t just be an add-on productivity tool. It should be integrated strategically into organization planning. ChatGPT is still relatively new, and since its launch, AI is exploding. AI should be integrated into strategic planning and not an afterthought to harness the potential. Integrate AI into your existing strategic planning processes. Evaluate the ability of AI to accelerate strategic priorities.

6. Ethical and Legal Considerations

While AI is a powerful tool, there are a variety of ethical and legal considerations. Areas like transparency, copyright, bias, privacy, security, and accuracy are just a few of the issues that AI creates. Organizations should provide clear guidance and training on the legal and ethical issues that come with using AI. Employees using AI must be aware of the risks, or they can put the entire organization at risk.

7. Innovation and Future Planning

AI is evolving rapidly. We are at the very beginning of this massive transformation. Staying on the leading edge is vital to your organization. AI shouldn’t only be a “right now” approach. Consider AI in your longer-term plans and integrate it into your long-term strategic planning.

AI is dramatically transforming businesses and how we do our daily work. Businesses that don’t adopt it could get left behind. Businesses that adopt quickly can move ahead of their competitors.

A comprehensive approach to AI can help ensure that your organization is ready to get the short- and long-term benefits of AI.