Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage.
No need to feel intimidated by AI—what matters is that you’re making progress on your AI journey. Debasis Dutta, Senior Vice President and head of Codecademy Enterprise Solutions at Skillsoft, shared this advice at this week’s VB Transform event in San Francisco. He emphasized, “It’s the journey that counts. Accept where you are, learn more, see where you can go, and think about your business outcomes.”
Dutta described four phases of AI maturity: exploration, experimentation, innovation, and realization. He pointed out that it doesn’t matter which stage your enterprise is in; what’s important is that each phase requires different elements for success.
In the exploration phase, you focus on identifying use cases, scenarios, and real-life examples, outlining the challenges AI is meant to solve. Every enterprise has unique needs, and there are numerous AI tools, capabilities, and parameters to explore.
During the experimentation phase, you begin to use these tools. Leaders should identify processes that need change and establish general guidelines and governance models to ensure no one goes off course. Regular assessments are crucial: Is AI working as expected? Is the organization gaining any traction? Are problem use cases solvable through generative AI and AI technologies?
The innovation phase occurs when AI starts to make a real impact on the organization, eventually becoming a core part of your operations, so you don’t have to worry about it.
Dutta also highlighted the importance of change management from the outset. Skillsoft has trained over a million learners in AI and generative AI over the past two years, collaborating with companies like Microsoft, AWS, and Cisco. Some partners have even requested C-suite level executives to be trained first to set an example.
Reskilling and upskilling are critical throughout the organization. This should be done intentionally, interactively, and based on a generative AI-powered platform. A comprehensive skilling development program can accelerate your AI maturity model.
Tailored learning journeys can help meet workers where they are and guide them to where they (and the organization) need to be. Leaders should continuously test, assess metrics, and determine if workers are effectively using AI in their daily tasks. Close interaction with tools and hands-on practice are essential for truly understanding AI’s capabilities.
AI integration is a top-down, end-to-end process. Simply sending people to a training program isn’t enough; you need a business outcome in mind, a program in place, and a way to measure success. Internal promotion and marketing are also crucial for stakeholder management.
Dealing with skepticism within the organization is part of the journey. You need to understand what people need, address their concerns about AI, and equip them with the right tools to embark on this journey.