AI Implementation is a New Task for Corporate Communicators

We often talk about corporate communicators needing to have a “seat at the table” with company leaders as key decisions are being made. The implementation of AI is now one of those decisions, and communicators have an opportunity to play a vital role and add value early in the process.

The implementation of AI is unlike technology implementations of the past. It will affect every part of the company, changing the way people work. This includes eliminating or creating processes, interacting with other technologies outside of human intervention, and offer new opportunities for productivity gains and increased quality of output (ex. customer services).

To make that work will require an enormous amount of coordination and communication to align activities around strategic outcomes. You can easily see scenarios where teams or departments go off in a silo to create individual experiments leading to a lack of integration and lost opportunities to build a more systemic approach.

In addition, the implementation of AI can have a significant effect on the overall culture of the company, and how individuals engage with the organization. Getting out ahead of initiatives by setting a positive, encouraging tone for secure use of AI tools and technologies will be important, as will offering significant opportunities for individual and team education (at all levels).

Despite the hype, GAI Insights, a Generative AI analysis and consulting firm estimates that only 5% of companies are what they call “in the crucible”. That is, they are rapidly transforming around AI use because of compelling use cases (ex. Pharma companies with R&D), opportunity for significant cost reduction or increase in output, and intense competition).

That means a lot of companies are in some form of the “figuring it out” stage at various points along the journey. GAI Insights recommends starting with a one or a couple of compelling use cases that will cut cost and/or increase revenue but not result in employee reductions (although people could be reassigned). This will support adoption and trust by promoting early wins without staff cuts.

So where should you start? Here are five ideas to get you started:

1.     Become a Knowledge Source: Build a strong foundation of knowledge around AI and the current tools out there by not only researching them but using them in day-to-day activity within your team.  

2.     Begin Working on a Policy and FAQ's: Understand what will be needed to develop a company use policy, FAQ and keep them updated that supports use but is also clear around security parameters.

3.     Include AI in the Communications Strategy: Revise the communications strategy to include AI implementation and determine how and when to best communication developments within the company.

4.     Identify Influencers and Build a Working Task Force: Begin identifying “influencers” within the organization who could be good candidates for AI task force as a sounding board or to support specific use case implementations.

5.     Offer Education and Training: Identify way to offer learning opportunities for staff across all different levels of awareness and intent around AI to level-set knowledge and support adoption.