It’s the headline everywhere you turn: AI is the future of work. But what does this mean for the millions of professionals who haven’t leaned into the new technology and built AI skills yet?
For some, it feels overwhelming to tackle a new technology; for others, AI skills seem unrelated or irrelevant to their career. The fact is, AI will likely be woven into almost every job in the future in some way, shape, or form.
It’s easy to feel behind the curve if you’re not already thinking about AI skills. But it’s important for professionals—from top-level executives to entry-level workers—to pay attention to what’s coming.
You don’t need to rush out and become a data scientist or a machine learning expert to join the conversation, but embracing AI literacy—knowing exactly what AI is, how it works, and what it can do—will equip you with an “AI edge.” And here’s why that matters: Professionals with an AI edge get ahead at work and build careers with staying power.
Here are three ways you can amp up your AI literacy and skills quickly.
Start small, start simple
It can be intimidating to adopt a new way of working, so instead start with small steps. Explore AI applications that don’t require coding, such as chatbots, voice assistants, and image recognition tools.
Play around in ChatGPT. Use the self-guided prompts in Copilot to help summarize and define takeaways from your next meeting. Have an extended chat with Alexa (or Siri) and see what words and questions (prompts!) get the most robust answers. Poke around Netflix or Spotify and see how the different platforms are integrating AI into their offerings. The more tools you try, the more exposure you get to different applications of AI, and the better equipped you are to speak intelligently about your experience.
Dig into how AI is being used in different industries such as healthcare, finance, and marketing—and follow AI news to keep up with the latest developments and trends. Understanding how, when, and where AI is used can help you determine where you want to dig in deeper: as a project manager, content creator, marketing whiz, or any of the other roles emerging in the AI space.
Stay ahead of the crowd (and competition)
The skills required to succeed today are changing fast, with AI speeding up the pace. Learning is something you need to make time for to stay competitive and future-proof your career. Take advantage of AI learning courses online—try an introductory course on AI basics for nontechnical roles.
Don’t know where to start? Look into courses focused on writing good AI prompts. Understanding and mastering AI prompts is a perfect foray into the world of AI because they’re easily accessible yet essential to getting the most out of the technology. The best part is instant feedback, which helps you understand how AI is processing information and generating answers.
Remember: Your competition, both internally and externally, is working to better their AI skills right now. Don’t get left behind.
Invest in people skills
AI is going to automate many of our tasks that involve data processing and pattern recognition, but it cannot fundamentally understand context and complex social interactions. Because of this, human skills—like communication, leadership, and flexibility—will become more important than ever.
No AI technology will be able to lead a team. Effective leadership involves inspiring and motivating teams, setting a clear vision, and creating and maintaining a positive culture. These tasks rely heavily on interpersonal skills.
And the companies thinking about introducing AI technologies to their organization? A leader who can manage through change and address employees’ concerns (and resistance) is crucial. Strong people skills are essential for navigating these changes smoothly.
LinkedIn data shows that 59% of hiring managers wouldn’t hire someone without AI literacy skills. Professionals can no longer afford to ignore AI. By starting small, staying ahead of the crowd, and investing in your people skills, you’ll be better prepared than most with an AI Edge.
