Generative AI is everything, everywhere, all at once.
It can be confusing.
Cutting through the chaos to get to what’s practical and meaningful is not easy. It can be simple but not always easy.
A good place to start with navigating the chaos is getting clear on where you are today.
→ That’s where the Generative AI readiness model comes in.
It’s designed to help you know where you stand today and what you can do to improve your readiness. You can use this both in and out of the L&D world.
This post is broken down into 3 stages:
- Unpacking the Gen AI Readiness model and your place on it
- How to move to the next level of readiness with key indicators and actions
- A 6-step process to improve your Gen AI readiness (teams and individuals)
The AI readiness model: Where are you?
Ok. Time to get clear on where you are today.
I’m 99% certain as of 2024, you’d do well just to reach ‘Awareness’.
The forward thinking teams and individuals will be aiming for ‘Exploration’. Everyone is still figuring this out. Take your time at the ‘Awareness’ stage.
Phase 1: Awareness
You recognise the importance of Generative AI but have limited understanding or practical experience. Here, the focus is on building basic knowledge about what AI is, its potential benefits, and the various technologies involved.
Phase 2: Exploration
You actively engage with AI concepts through learning and experimentation.
You may start small-scale pilot projects or experiments to understand how AI can be applied to their processes or products.
Phase 3: Adoption
This signifies a commitment to integrating AI into organisational processes or products. At this level, there is a good understanding of AI, and it’s being actively used to enhance operations, decision-making, or customer experiences.
Phase 4: Scaling
You’re fully prepared to integrate and scale AI solutions.
This means having the technical capabilities, strategic alignment, and organisational culture to support AI at scale.
How to reach the next AI readiness level
Your Generative AI maturity won’t be fixed.
The way this technology advances, I’ve no doubt we’ll be swinging back and forth through the levels.
Like with the above. I believe the sweet spot for the next 18 months is in ‘Exploration’. Each level is broken down into two sections of ‘Key Indicators’ and “Actions”.
→ Indicators = the behaviours that should be displayed
→ Actions = the activities you/and your team are engaged with
1. Awareness
Key Indicators:
- Curiosity about AI
- Basic awareness of AI technologies and their potential impact
- Initial discussions about AI opportunities.
Key Actions:
Attending introductory workshops, webinars, and consuming educational content on applied Gen AI fundamentals for work.
2. Exploration
Key Indicators:
- Engagement in AI education programs
- Experimentation with AI tools and platforms in workflow
- Assessment of AI applications relevant to the organisation’s context
Key Actions:
- Participating in active upskilling
- Experimenting with AI tools in controlled projects
- Beginning to integrate AI into select processes for testing and learning
- A commitment to build foundational knowledge and skills
- Exploring AI use cases, and understanding the resources required for meaningful Gen AI initiatives
3. Adoption
Key Indicators:
- Development of a Gen AI learning strategy
- Data readiness assessment
- Established AI governance practices
- Live initiation of pilot projects.
Key Actions:
- Implementing AI solutions across various business areas
- Investing in more advanced training for teams
- Establishing best practices for AI governance and ethical use
4. Scaling
Key Indicators:
- Proven Gen AI pilot projects
- Established Gen AI best practices
- Scalable GenAI infrastructure
- High-performing Gen AI upskilling programmes
Key Actions:
- You innovate with AI to improve employee performance
- You freely share knowledge across the company
- You focus on continuous improvement and the development of impactful Gen AI capabilities.
The 6- step process to improve your AI readiness
Applying Gen AI tools intelligently is more than tech skills. It’s a blend of human and tech know-how.
If you’re not happy with where you are.
Let’s break down 6 simple steps to change that:
1. Check yourself
First things first, let’s talk about a little self-reflection.
No, not the kind you’d post on Instagram, but rather a skills check.
Think wider than tech – how’s the team with change, solving problems, getting creative etc? Get clear on the culture.
→ What is the level of GEN AI knowledge today?
You can’t figure out where to go if you don’t know your starting point. They say learning is about recognising your limitations today. So, it’s time to get some clarity.
⚒️ Tools + Resources:
- Find your place (and your teams) on the AI readiness model
- GEN AI explained for humans
- Everything you need to know about Generative AI
2. Spot the opportunities
Where can AI really enhance work for you?
No gimmicks.
Identify the tasks that could benefit. Always think problem-first, never tool-first.
Your north star should be meaningful and impactful enhancements. This needs to align to your context. Where a huge corporation might find little use with AI support in business writing. A one person team could be transformed by it.
Context matters.
⚒️ Tools + Resources:
- AI Copilots powering the future of performance
- 3 ways to work smarter with AI in L&D
- How Gen AI tools are enhancing employee performance: 10 Insightful charts
- The data is clear: Conversational AI tools are improving skills at speed
3. Explore the field
Curious about how other folks are doing things?
It’s natural.
If you’ve got a good network in your industry, reach out to others. I guarantee they’re thinking the same thing. You could create a small community to build your knowledge.
We might be talking about AI. But the present and future is always human powered.
⚒️ Tools + Resources
- How BHP used ChatGPT to improve its leadership framework
- Why McKinsey created an LLM to give employees and customers access to thousands of reports
- 5 early adopters of Generative AI at work
4. Find the gaps
Reflecting back on our skills check, let’s identify what’s missing.
Is your team up to speed on AI basics? You can’t master these tools without understanding the basics.
Plus, nobody wants to be that person who pretends to know what they’re doing but doesn’t, right?
⚒️ Tools + Resources:
- Delve into the AI Readiness model again – where is your team today?
- How to craft an intelligent strategy for Gen AI collaboration
- The 5-step ‘make me AI confident’ learning strategy
5. Pick your battles
Put your focus where it counts.
Gen AI tools are not a saviour. Some gaps matter more than others, so choose wisely where to invest your energy.
⚒️ Tools + Resources:
- The Gen AI tools vs task assessment
6. Map it out
A goal without a plan means nothing.
Plan your move.
A clear upskilling strategy will take your team from AI newbies to pros quicker than you think.
⚒️ Tools + Resources
- How to create a impactful Gen AI upskilling programme thats meaningful
The AI Readiness Assessment For L&D Teams: Benchmark your maturity against fellow L&D professionals
I’ve created an easier way for you to discover your current level of maturity with AI in L&D, compare this against fellow industry professionals and learn how to keep growing.
You can get your personalised AI Readiness Report at zero-cost.
I built this for every L&D pro and team to get clarity on where our industry really is with AI maturity. Social media makes you think everyone is in front of you, but the reality is very different.
It takes less than 5 minutes to complete, and you don’t have to share any personal or company data.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, friend.
Your personal strategy to becoming ready for Generative AI at work.
- Get clear on where you are today
- Scale at your own pace with intelligent moves
- Don’t stand still
If you’re reading this and thinking “I want to become AI confident”.
I can help you with that. Learn more about my no-fluff AI upskilling services for Business (or please recommend me to a friend 😉).
I hope this helps.
Before you go… 👋
If you like my writing and think “Hey, I’d like to hear more of what this guy has to say” then you’re in luck.
You can join me every Tuesday morning for more tools, templates and insights for the modern L&D pro in my weekly newsletter.
3 replies on “How To Easily Assess Your Teams AI Readiness In 4 Steps”
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