How leaders can help their workers adapt to AI

As AI becomes more prevalent in the workforce, researchers say organizations will need to help their workers learn new skills to better adapt to AI.  

"Technology and automation are affecting the jobs that are available," said Margaret Beier, director of the Adult Skills and Knowledge Lab and chair of the department of psychological sciences at Rice University. "This really is going to necessitate a focus on reskilling, which we tend to define as gaining skills for a new role, and upskilling, which is enhancing skills for one's current role."

Rachel Lipson, scholar in residence and cofounder of Harvard University's Project on Workforce, said training on AI will need to be tailored to the type of job involved. Lipson divided jobs into three categories: frontier jobs, or those created by new technology; retooled jobs, or those whose skills are changing due to new technology; and legacy jobs, or those that will remain essential even as technology evolves. 

Chouinard expressed a similar sentiment, saying that "learning and training themselves will be reshaped by AI and will increasingly involve continuous experimentation with AI tools, alongside prompt-based, 'help-me-do-this' forms of learning."

As organizations continue to invest in AI solutions, leaders will increasingly face questions and potential decisions about workforce replacement. Ty Aderhold, managing director of digital health and AI research at Advisory Board, outlines three actions leaders should take to better prepare themselves for this future:

• Develop a clear-eyed strategy for how AI will impact work at your organization. Leaders need to understand how different AI solutions will affect their teams and the work they do. This should be part of overall strategic planning and included in regular conversation and review within AI governance systems.
• Proactively identify roles that are at greater risk from AI. Leaders need to be proactive about identifying roles that are at greater risk from AI and developing adaptation strategies. Taking a fresh look at workflows, investing in additional training, and engaging high-potential staff can all help workers adapt more effectively to AI.
• Be aware of the human and community costs of your decisions. Many healthcare organizations are major employers and anchors in their community. However, as AI becomes more prevalent in the workforce, leaders will likely face difficult choices when it comes to their workforce, which could have negative financial and health impacts on their broader communities.

*Advisory Board is a subsidiary of Optum. All Advisory Board research, expert perspectives, and recommendations remain independent.