Embracing AI: A Learning Journey for All

Embracing AI: A Learning Journey for All

Emma Weber

In the ever-evolving world of technology, artificial intelligence (AI) is on everyone’s lips. I’m in the UK at the moment and it seems to be on the news every day! From transforming industries to reshaping everyday tasks, AI is making waves. But how can organisations not only keep up but also lead the way in AI adoption? A recent article shared by Forbes, and written by Melissa Daimler, highlights a learning approach that I admire, where a Chief Learning Officer’s team is actively learning and embracing AI in a thoughtful, strategic way.

What stood out to me were three key elements this team focused on:

  1. Upskill on AI Literacy: It starts with understanding AI not just what it is, but how it works and the principles of prompt engineering. Building this foundational knowledge is crucial to using AI effectively.
  2. Courageously Experiment: This team didn’t stop at learning; they took it a step further by actively using AI, sharing insights, and exploring new ways of working. Experimentation is key to innovation.
  3. Lead Through Change: As AI continues to shape the workplace, it’s essential to set a clear vision for its adoption. This includes educating teams on both the opportunities and risks, establishing governance, and recognising those who are using AI responsibly.

I love seeing a learning team that’s not just teaching others, but actively learning themselves. Their approach reflects a deeper commitment to understanding AI, rather than simply adopting it because it’s trendy.

However, one of the key barriers I often find when it comes to improving AI skills—or any skill for that matter—is investing the time to do so. In a fast-paced world, taking the time to slow down, reflect, and truly learn can feel like a luxury. Yet, to truly leverage new technology like AI, it’s a necessity. Slowing down to speed up is essential.

Building this skill through dedicated learning allows you to become more proficient, and, once mastered, you can clearly see how else it can apply to your role. It’s not just about acquiring knowledge but transferring that learning into action and impact (and of course, I would say that!) This journey of learning transfer is what ensures AI, and any new skill, becomes a valuable tool in our day-to-day work, rather than just another buzzword.

AI adoption is a continuous journey. And seeing learning teams lead by example—like in the Forbes article—reminds us all the power of learning and the importance of being willing to slow down in order to speed up.

Emma Weber is a recognized authority on the transfer of learning. As CEO of Lever–Transfer of Learning, she has helped companies such as Telstra, Oracle and BMW deliver and measure tangible business results from learning. She has also been a guest speaker at learning effectiveness conferences worldwide and authored the hugely successful book “Turning Learning into Action“. Much more detail around the issues and solutions examined in this article are available in the book – please feel free to download a free chapter. Emma and her team also developed Coach M, a coaching chatbot that delivers fully scaleable learning transfer. She is also a co-author of the books Making Change Work, and Designing Virtual Learning for Application and Impact. Her work and approach is also featured in Data and Analytics for Instructional Designers by Megan Torrance (Author), Foundations of People Metrics and Analytics – by Renjini Joseph and an ATD 10-minute case study series – Chatbot Coaching for Learning Transfer.