Essential AI Literacies for Business Success in the Age of Generative AI
Key AI literacy skills required to deliver business value that are often overlooked
As an AI Consultant and creator of the FuturAI Newsletter & Podcast, I've seen firsthand how AI is reshaping the business landscape in surprising ways.
One crucial aspect of this transformation that is sadly too often neglected is the development of AI literacies within businesses, and I mean literacies as in plural!
Most would understand the need for an ‘AI Literacy’ i.e. some degree of competence and understanding of what AI is and what it can do.
What is less well understood by businesses new to AI is that there is not one but multiple different types of ‘AI literacies’ that are required for different roles within the business to ensure successful AI adoption.
These literacies are essential for companies to effectively leverage generative AI and navigate the challenges and immense opportunities it presents.
Let's explore the key AI literacies that businesses need to cultivate for success.
Credibility and Information Literacy
In our age of AI-generated content, the ability to assess the credibility of both AI inputs and outputs is paramount.
Key roles must develop critical thinking skills to evaluate the reliability of AI-generated information and understand the limitations of these systems.
This literacy involves:
Understanding the importance of & quality of data that is used for AI models
Recognising that AI outputs are not infallible
Developing digital literacy to discern reliable sources from potentially biased or inaccurate information from AI outputs
As Forbes has highlighted:
“Generative AI models are designed to create data that looks like real data, but that doesn’t mean outputs are always true,” according to an analysis by Beena Ammanath, executive director of the Deloitte AI Institute. “Sometimes, the model takes a wrong turn.”
Creative and Play Literacy
Beyond basic usage of AI tools such a ChatGPT, more advanced usage of these tools for better results requires a degree of creativity and playfulness.
This can require a significant shift in mindset from seeing computers as simple ‘input-output’ systems to something more interactive and human-like.
Key aspects include:
Understanding iterative experimentation with AI prompts
Knowing how to explore various possibilities with Gen AI systems
Being able to engaging in creative problem-solving with AI
Microsoft highlighted this in a recent post:
It’s important to remember that prompting AI to generate responses is not an exact science, and that iteration is key, Marsman said. The beauty of creating prompts is that you can try multiple approaches to see what works best. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different lengths, tones and voices
Technical Literacy
While not everyone in an business needs deep technical knowledge of AI systems, having team members with a strong understanding of AI fundamentals is crucial.
This literacy involves understanding concepts such as prompt engineering, AI hallucinations, and advanced techniques like retrieval augmented generation (RAG) and fine-tuning.
Technical literacy is particularly important for:
Project managers overseeing AI initiatives
Team members responsible for AI system deployment and maintenance
Decision-makers evaluating AI solutions
Sherzod Odilov emphasised this recently in Forbes:
To lead effectively in the AI era, you must enhance your own competency in AI technologies. This doesn't mean becoming an AI expert overnight, but it does require a foundational understanding of how AI tools and systems work. Development for all leadership roles should now include modules on AI.
Inclusivity and Access Literacy
As AI becomes more prevalent in business & society, ensuring access to AI knowledge and resources within an organisation to those that need it is vital.
This "literacy of literacies" involves understanding who needs which AI skills and ensuring that the benefits of AI are available to those who need them most.
This literacy encompasses:
Identifying disparities in AI access and understanding within a business
Developing strategies to provide necessary AI training and resources
Ensuring AI benefits are distributed equitably and where needed across the organisation
MIT’s Sloane Review points out the importance of this:
IT experts have long lamented many executives limited knowledge of IT’s underlying functionality. In turn, many executives have (often unconsciously) declined to develop such IT literacy, preferring instead to focus their time and attention on domain and business matters.
However, recent evidence indicates that organisations that successfully unlock the strategic potential of artificial intelligence have executives and leaders who embody the opposite instinct: These leaders do have deeper knowledge of AI’s functionality.
Conversational and Brand Norms Literacy
As interactions with AI systems become more sophisticated, new conversational norms are emerging that will increasingly matter for businesses.
This literacy involves understanding how to effectively communicate with AI systems and ensuring that these interactions align with company values and brand identity.
This could relate not only to external facing AI systems e.g. customer service chatbots, but also internal AI use, what are appropriate or inappropriate ways of using and speaking to these AI systems?
This is again a tricky mindset shift, adjusting from viewing AI systems as just machines to something more like partners and business colleagues.
Key considerations include:
Developing appropriate communication styles for AI interactions
Understanding the impact of techniques like role prompting
Aligning AI interactions with company brand values
As Zeta Global mentioned recently:
AI’s ability to analyse vast amounts of data and extract meaningful insights allows brands to create highly personalised and relevant content, ensuring that marketing strategies resonate deeply with their target audience.
Additionally, AI-driven automation in customer service environments can provide swift and efficient responses, reinforcing a brand’s reputation for attentiveness and reliability. However, it’s crucial that AI applications align with the brand’s ethos and voice, maintaining authenticity and human touch in every interaction.
Psychological Framing Literacy
The way users psychologically frame their interactions with AI systems can significantly impact the effectiveness of these tools.
This literacy involves understanding the potential psychological effects of AI interactions and developing healthy attitudes towards these systems.
Important aspects include:
Recognising tendencies to anthropomorphise AI as they become increasingly human-like by both employees and customers
Understanding the potential impact of AI interactions on human behaviour
Developing appropriate attitudes & mindsets towards AI systems
Forbes Africa explained it’s importance in a recent article:
Behavioural science provides a lens through which to investigate how people engage with AI systems, such as responding to recommendations, making decisions based on AI-generated data, and building trust in AI technologies. These findings are critical for developing AI systems that are not only user- friendly but also promote beneficial behavioral outcomes, such as improving decision-making processes and preventing the reinforcement of negative biases.
Adaptability and Learning Literacy
As AI continues to evolve, the ability to adapt and learn new skills is crucial.
This literacy involves creating supportive environments that help employees adjust to AI-driven changes in their roles.
Key elements include:
Developing strategies for introducing AI tools into existing workflows
Creating support systems for employees adapting to AI-driven changes
Fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation
Hyperspace magazine made this point clearly:
In today’s fast-paced and AI-driven era, organisations must prioritise nurturing a culture of continuous learning to achieve innovative and sustainable growth in the workplace. By embracing continuous learning, providing ample learning opportunities, aligning goals, leveraging AI-powered tools, and fostering a supportive and innovative environment, organisations can thrive and stay competitive.
Summing up
As businesses increasingly integrate generative AI into their operations, developing these seven AI literacies becomes crucial for success.
Not everyone will require all 7 of these literacies, but careful thought and consideration needs to be given so there is at least one person or role that covers each of these essential literacies.
By cultivating these AI literacies across your workforce, companies can continue to maximise the benefits of AI while effectively navigating its challenges.
Like to learn more about how AI could improve your business?
Find out more here.