The pressure is on for quick AI rollouts – but slow and steady wins this race too

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Like many radically transformative technologies throughout history, the rise of AI is creating shockwaves of excitement and dread. This is especially true for businesses, for which AI simultaneously promises huge productivity gains and seismic disruptions.

Also: Tech prophet Mary Meeker just dropped a massive report on AI trends – here’s your TL;DR

A new white paper published by IT recruitment firm Experis aims to offer peace of mind during these early, and sometimes overwhelming, days of the AI era. In a section titled “Best Practices for Employees and Employers,” the company lays out some practical tips for actively embracing the technology. Let’s dive in.

Tips for employees: Upskill, and remember your humanity

Experis argues that all employees, regardless of roles, should consider how their jobs will be transformed by AI and prepare themselves accordingly. That preparation should come in the form of “upskilling,” a term which has become a popular buzzword as AI continues to permeate throughout the business world. 

Also: AI doesn’t have to be a job-killer. How some businesses are using it to enhance, not replace

One of the most valuable contemporary skills recommended by Experis is AI proficiency: “You don’t necessarily have to know exactly how algorithms work, but you DO have to know that you can use available AI-based technologies to do your job more effectively,” the authors write in the white paper. 

Like a tourist visiting a foreign country, you don’t need to be fluent in the local language. However, you will benefit massively from being able to make basic conversations and familiarizing yourself with the lay of the land before you travel. The white paper further recommends researching the AI tools that would be useful within your particular role, learning how to adopt them, and pitching practical use cases to your manager.

The findings also underscore the notion that the most successful businesses will be those that can strike a balanced, collaborative harmony between human strengths and AI’s strengths. According to Experis, humans must continue to hone critical “soft skills,” like empathy and interpersonal communication.

Tips for employers: ‘Walk before you run’

The white paper also provides advice to employers, many of whom face pressure to quickly embrace AI while also needing to temper fears of job displacement among their employees.

Also: AI could erase half of entry-level white collar jobs in 5 years, CEO warns

First and foremost, Experis urges employers to think of AI as an augmentation, rather than a replacement, for human labor and creativity. (This echoes what’s become something of a PR mantra among major tech developers who repeatedly insist the same for the introduction of their models.)

Yet the degree to which augmentation is possible depends on the types of roles in question. A recent study conducted by researchers at Georgia State University found that AI is replacing human workers in some job categories, while increasing the demand for human labor in others.

Even the most powerful AI tools are prone to bias, fabrication, and other foibles, the white paper authors note, which makes it essential for humans to remain in the loop — at least “in roles requiring subtle judgement or emotional interaction.” 

Also: 4 ways business leaders are using AI to solve problems and create real value

Additionally, research has shown that while AI can boost employee productivity, it can also come with harmful psychological side effects, including a decreased sense of engagement with work. 

Like their employees, employers are also advised to begin active measures to test and implement practical applications for AI. 

Crucially, the white paper recommends a slow and steady approach: implementing AI into one team or department at a time, for example, and regarding every experiment as a work in progress that will need fine-tuning over time. 

Also: 5 ways to turn AI’s time-saving magic into your productivity superpower

Despite the huge pressure to rapidly bring AI-powered products and services to their customers, employers should always start with their teams, upskilling employees and making sure their organizations can leverage the technology effectively and responsibly: “It’s wise to walk before you run and take the time to deploy AI internally first,” the authors write.