Given the findings noted above, organizations should consider the following actions:
We strongly advise companies to establish a Steering Committee to take the lead in AI adoption. Ideally, the Steering Committee would consist of members from across the organization, representing a range of responsibilities and functional capacities. It is important to include employees at different levels of seniority, not just senior executives, as newer team members are more likely to be active users of AI.

– The Steering Committee should assess all the ways that AI may be (or is already) applied to the company’s operations and develop an appropriate deployment strategy, including clear priorities. For example, is AI being used for internal functions, such as an HR chatbot, or in external-facing roles, such as customer service, among other uses? Understanding how employees “on the ground” are utilizing these systems will be essential to adopting an effective AI strategy.

– Apply AI more broadly to the onboarding process so employees “get the message” early on that it is intrinsic to the organization. One caveat, however, is that the AI-driven onboarding process should not take place in a vacuum. Use of AI during onboarding will be most beneficial if the company is truly committed to and delivers on the use of artificial intelligence on an ongoing basis.

– Once the Steering Committee has established the AI strategy and top priorities, leadership needs to frankly assess the impact on employees. While some functions will likely be replaced by AI systems, there may be opportunities for upskilling some employees or shifting some team members to other areas. Over the long term, it will be important to implement clear processes for transitioning employees who AI displaces.

– As for whether or how to compensate employees who acquire advanced AI skills, an increase in base pay is probably not the best option, as it may lead to long-term structural salary inflation. A better solution might be a spot bonus or stipend, which would incentivize AI mastery without up-ending pay scales.

– As with all change, clear, consistent communication is key to managing concerns, encouraging engagement and acceptance, and soliciting input for continued improvement.

The above observations show that, in many cases, employees are actually ahead of their employers in unlocking the value of artificial intelligence. To realize AI’s vast potential, organizations would be well-advised to take a more strategic and intentional approach to deploying the technology in the workplace.