Why Adoption is the Most Important Thing

AI is used more frequently in businesses than ever before, in recent studies 77% of consultancy firms in the UK have started to use AI in some way, yet on average 55% of the employees at these firms either do not adopt the technology or are using shadow AI. Similarly, at the enterprise level, where over 320 billion is spent a year collectively, roughly half of all implemented systems fail. Why?

Adoption is the single largest factor, it is in fact counterproductive to roll out AI schemes with licences and new software, if the users it is intended for never use it.

There are three main reasons adoption fails when implementing AI into companies. Firstly, fear plays a massive role. Many employees fear their job role being taken or being replaced entirely. Second, many users are not aware of what AI is actually capable of, it is often viewed as a search tool to be used like google. Finally, trust is naturally low when being introduced to these tools for the first time, with negative media and talk of hallucinations, often people view AI as a temperamental, unreliable tool.

To begin with, fear. Fear of AI taking your job is partially real and massively misunderstood. AI cannot do your job for you without human intervention, initial input and quality assurance are key parts in the AI prompting cycle. AI is a tool just like any piece of software. When Microsoft Excel released in 1985, many people who were using pen and paper didn't adapt. We're seeing a similar pattern where those who do not adapt are left behind. Jobs have decreased over the last few years, but we're beginning to see an uptick of job roles coming back as companies realise AI without the human component is fractionally effective. Using AI effectively is a skill which is both desirable and hireable.

Lack of knowledge is the next big hurdle. Users view AI as basic chat functionality, when in reality, it's a Swiss army knife of productivity. Showing users successful use cases for some more out the box areas, which they are likely not to expect to be possible, works to reframe the current belief. The question all users of AI should be asking is, how can I utilise this tool to improve my day-to-day work and eliminate my most unenjoyable tasks.

The final barrier, distrust and scepticism are at an all time high, talks of an AI bubble, hallucinations and wrongful AI usage are everywhere in media. However, the tools are not the problem. AI in its current forms is arguably the most powerful piece of software ever created, and people use them day to day to create incredible things over a timespan that was not even thought possible 5 years ago.

For all three points there is one solution that helps with all. Upskilling employees to use AI correctly, safely and productively. This helps gain the skill that makes you more valuable and less likely to be replaced, learn about use cases that can expand what you thought was possible with the current tools and build trust and confidence through usage and practice. AI training and adoption will have to be hand in hand for the foreseeable future.