4 Compelling Reasons to Encourage AI Use Among Employees

Much buzz has been made about Artificial Intelligence replacing jobs traditionally done by human workers. Is it a reality? To an extent. But the true function of generative AI is to augment human capabilities, not replace them.

As a tool, generative AI can automate repetitive tasks, and allow employees to focus on more creative and complex parts of their work. Essentially, it makes employees’ lives easier.

And that means businesses can benefit, big time. A recent McKinsey research report estimates that “generative AI could add the equivalent of $2.6 trillion to $4.4 trillion annually” to the global economy, with banking, high tech, and life sciences among the industries that could see the biggest impact. When employees use AI within their current roles, businesses often see increased productivity, less guess-work, and creative problem-solving.

Still wondering if you should encourage your employees to use generative AI? Read on for generative AI use cases, myth-busters, and reasons why allowing employees to use generative AI is paramount.

1. Higher Productivity for Developers

Generative AI is changing the game for developers by automating and streamlining the development process. According to a Github blog post, “AI-assisted engineering workflows are quickly emerging with new generative AI coding tools that offer code suggestions and entire functions in response to natural language prompts and existing code.”

What does that mean? Developers can use AI-powered tools to generate code, identify and fix bugs, and even create detailed documentation. These time-saving capabilities let developers focus on more creative and complex tasks, accelerate project timelines, and reduce the risk of human error.

And developers are taking full advantage: a Stack Overflow 2023 Developer Survey study showed, “70% of all respondents are using or are planning to use AI tools in their development process this year.”

2. Faster Content Creation

It’s no secret that marketers need a constant flow of content — and that’s another area where generative AI comes through. Tasks like writing product descriptions, creating social media content and (ahem, case in point) generating blog posts are made easier with AI tools. They not only save time, but can also help maintain consistency in branding and messaging.

Developing content more quickly means marketers can engage with their audience more effectively and respond to trends and market changes in real-time. And while companies like OpenAI's GPT-3 (shout out, thanks for your help!) don’t always generate text that sounds exactly human, they can give you a framework from which to build content that feels like your brand’s voice.

3. Codified Coaching and Leadership Development

It may seem counterintuitive: coaching and leadership development should only require direct human interaction, right? But generative AI has been shown to benefit professionals in leadership positions, and help stressed out managers be better coaches.

With AI-generated training materials and personalized feedback, coaches and leaders can create customized development plans for their team members, aligning with their unique strengths and weaknesses.

AI-powered tools are also great for assessments and skills benchmarks. By incorporating generative AI in leadership development, organizations can enhance the growth of their employees and foster better leadership skills.

4. Better Data Analytics and Decision-Making

Data is the lifeblood of modern business, and — perhaps its greatest strength — generative AI can play a significant role in data analytics.

According to an article By the International Institute of Business Analysis, “AI for data analysis allows for processing large volumes of complex data at high speeds, leading to quicker and more accurate business insights.”

AI models can help data analysts in identifying patterns, predicting trends, and generating reports. These insights are crucial for informed decision-making, allowing organizations to adapt to changing market conditions and make strategic choices based on data-driven evidence.

Generative AI is nothing if not versatile, and there are a few industries where it really shines in making workers' roles easier.

Healthcare

Medical researchers can use generative AI to analyze vast amounts of medical data against a patient’s symptoms. AI can therefore help doctors make better diagnoses and recommend treatment options, potentially saving lives and improving patient care.

While powerful, anyone in healthcare who plans to use a tool like ChatGPT should first check your organization’s internal policy or consult with legal counsel to ensure patient privacy and safeguard sensitive data.

Human Resources

AI can save hours of time for HR professionals who need to screen resumes and match candidates with open roles. Overall, it can make recruitment more efficient and effective. Not to mention, HR can use AI for onboarding, employee monitoring, and learning and development tasks.

Customer Support

AI-powered chatbots can enhance customer support by providing instant responses and resolving common issues fast. In fact, a McKinsey insight even credited AI with driving greater customer engagement.

Design and Creativity

Graphic designers and artists can use generative AI to create digital artwork, generate design concepts, and even assist in video editing. Like it or not, AI-generated art pieces have even won prizes.

While many worry that AI will replace human workers, promote biases, or push ethical boundaries, it’s up to companies to promote ethical and responsible AI use within their processes.

• Establishing ethical guidelines that prioritize fairness, transparency and responsible data management
• Training employees on AI technology, recognizing biases, and maintaining privacy standards
• Conducting regular audits of AI systems for ethical and legal compliance
• Encouraging open communication for employees to report concerns

Read Next: Is Your Organization Using AI? Here’s How to Do it Ethically - Skillsoft

In short, generative AI is a powerful tool that can enhance productivity and creativity across industries, departments, and disciplines in the workplace.

Developers, marketers, coaches, leaders, and professionals from diverse fields can all benefit from AI-powered solutions. However, to fully harness the potential of generative AI, organizations must prioritize ethical boundaries, transparency, responsible use, and proper training.

Skillsoft can help. Together with Codecademy, Skillsoft offers several courses and resources to help organizations take full advantage of AI reliably and ethically. Read more about our courses on generative AI and ChatGPT here.