Introducing “Tales from the ‘Other’ AI Frontier”
The blog for anyone - especially leaders - trying to figure out what AI means for themselves and their organisation
While much of the tech world is fawning over the latest ‘Frontier AI’ technology releases from OpenAI and Google, I’m fascinated by what’s going on at the ‘Other’ AI frontier.
This week, I’ll work with an organisation where 73% of the staff have never used a Gen AI tool. I’ll work with another where two-thirds of the team rate their confidence in understanding AI’s benefits and risks as either 1 or 2 out of 5.
This is what the ‘Other’ AI Frontier looks like
It’s where AI meets the organisations that haven’t had much reason to think about the technology before. These organisations now find themselves facing a frontier they never expected to encounter, and with a multitude of questions
How to adopt AI safely and responsibly?
How to create a culture that allows their staff to excel at what they’re great at?
How to give their teams the skills they need?
How to identify the problems AI could solve?
What risks and governance issues does AI present?
And how to keep pace with the art of the possible, alongside everything else?
Even if the tech is there - and the barriers to entry are significantly lower today than they were yesterday - it’s clear that the cultural and human change needed to adopt this technology responsibly and at scale remains significant.
And this is what this blog will be about!
Fortunately, I love change! This is why I set up AIConfident and why I’m now sharing through this blog everything we learn along the way, to help all of you who find yourselves at this frontier… or are simply interested in it!
Perhaps you’re a Leader in a school, a charity, in the public sector or have your own business? You feel the need to respond to this AI phenomenon everyone is talking about, but have no idea where to start? Maybe you’re concerned about how AI-related harms could affect your community and wondering how to prepare people for these new challenges while managing the many other pressures on your time.
Or maybe you’re the ‘AI Person’ in your organisation, responsible for deciphering what this all means, leading the charge against numerous headwinds, and trying to keep up with the ever-moving frontier of the technology.
Or maybe you’re pushing the AI frontier, working with some incredible minds and cutting-edge technology, heading towards AGI at pace, or putting the policy and regulation in place to keep it all balanced. You might want to understand what AI adoption looks like from the other side.
There will be something here for all of you!
Always start with ‘Why?’
You may know by now that I always like to start with ‘Why’. So, the first couple of blog entries will explore why this frontier is important from economic, social, and personal perspectives.
From there, it will be a journey of examples and best practices, sharing what works and what doesn’t when it comes to leading the successful cultural and human change required to adopt such powerful technology.
There’s also a podcast in the offing, where I’ll speak with leaders who bear the medals and the scars from leading change at ‘the Other Frontier’, exploring and sharing their unique journeys. I have some great guests lined up already, but would love some suggestions for others.
Whoever you are, if this sounds of interest, pop your email in the box below and get ready for the first instalment soon!