Automation will bring with it continuous development opportunities that must be adapted to each employee’s needs in order to be effective.
Today, many of us are using artificial intelligence without even realising it. According to a survey from HubSpot. 63 per cent of us use AI such as predictive typing every day without this awareness. If that figure is to be believed, is the workplace of the future already on our doorstep?
Well, not quite yet. The reality is that most organisations still have a long way to go when it comes to knowing how to combine AI with the human element of their business. The best starting point is always to remember why you are introducing any new technology into the workplace. It should always be to improve the nature of work and/or to improve the outcomes of work.
There are plenty of examples out there of organisations successfully doing just that to inspire employee engagement. Many organisations also use innovation to boost productivity, increase efficiency or improve workplace learning. Global ambassadors clearly leading the way include Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft.
Recent research by AI Forum New Zealand explores the future implications, opportunities and challenges presented by the introduction of AI and the crossover with personalisation in learning.
“The traditional model of ‘learn, work, retire’ will become increasingly redundant as AI and other automation technologies reshape the way we engage with work as a society,” says the AI Forum report.
“Some current roles will be reshaped, others displaced, and entirely new roles created. Access to lifelong learning will become increasingly essential. In the years to come there will be a growing need to retrain adult workers.”
AI will also drive the future of workplace training. It’s ability to personalise a journey and provide offers of higher relevancy and interest to learners and contributes will give them a greater opportunity to achieve professional development goals that benefit the organisation.
For example, a basic and advanced learner can take up the same training module and progress their learning at a speed that suits them. They can also complete the training on a device of their choosing, opting for their preferred style of learning experience – whether that be audio or video, or a blend of the two.
We are not that far away from this learning utopia – there are already exciting and interactive opportunities within elearning that will continue to develop exponentially. Our very own learning experiences will soon be far removed from the box ticking modules of the recent past.
One of evolutions we are reviewing closely at Kineo is in support of learner progress. That how, with personalised learner experiences, completion rates could significantly rise and provide a higher level of return on investment from employee training.
Addressing the growing “skills gap” will be an increasing focus for all organisations in a changing workplace, fuelled by automation and the advancement of AI.
The “winners” will be organisations that can take what is today considered a challenge and turn it into an opportunity. The key is to develop the learning infrastructure that will facilitate the growth of your workforce’s skills and interests, and to hone their soft, empathetic skills so they can reach their true potential – both professionally and personally.