Building AI expertise: Training employees for the AI regulation
Artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally changing the way companies work.
Employees need to develop the right AI skills in order to fully exploit the new opportunities offered by artificial intelligence.
The EU’s AI regulation also makes it necessary for companies that use AI to train their employees and build up AI expertise.
Companies that invest in the right skills for their employees have the best chance of fully exploiting the potential of AI technologies and promoting future-oriented innovations.
This article shows why AI skills are so important and how companies can build the relevant AI expertise to ensure long-term success.
Key Takeaways:
- Developing AI expertise is crucial to a company’s success: without sound skills in dealing with AI, companies cannot remain competitive.
- Important AI skills include prompt engineering, data sensitivity and critical thinking: employees must learn to use AI efficiently and critically scrutinize results.
- Tailor-made training programs promote skills development: training should be tailored to the employees’ level of knowledge and designed with a practical focus.
- Managers play a central role: they must promote a data-driven culture and support the further development of employees.
Why build AI expertise?
The implementation of AI technologies offers companies a wide range of opportunities, from automation to data-based decision-making.
The EU AI Act makes it necessary for operators and users of AI systems to build up AI expertise within the company.
Without sound AI skills, companies run the risk of missing out on important market opportunities.
A lack of understanding of the technologies can lead to incorrect interpretations and wrong decisions.
There are various risks and challenges if AI skills are not sufficiently available.
Companies that want to use these technologies effectively must ensure that their employees understand the AI systems, use them correctly and are also able to question them critically.
This is particularly true in areas such as data protection and the ethical handling of data, where mistakes can have serious consequences.
Companies that do not invest in the training of their employees will find it difficult to cope with technological change and remain competitive in the long term.
Important AI skills that employees should develop
Building AI skills requires more than just technical knowledge.
It is a combination of practical skills, strategic thinking and critical questioning.
Companies should ensure that their employees develop the following key skills:
Prompt engineering: In order to use AI systems such as ChatGPT efficiently, employees must be able to formulate clear and precise input (prompts).
This improves the results and facilitates collaboration with the AI systems.Data sensitivity and data protection: Employees must master the secure handling of data, especially with regard to sensitive and personal information.
Data protection is a key issue in today’s digital world and the responsible use of data is crucial to the success of AI projects.Critical thinking: Although AI systems deliver impressive results, these must always be critically scrutinized.
AI systems are based on algorithms and training data that are not always error-free or objective.
Employees should be able to check the results and put them in the right context.Risk management: The use of AI poses ethical and legal challenges.
Employees must be trained to recognize risks and handle these technologies responsibly.
This is particularly important in view of the upcoming legal framework, such as the EU’s AI Regulation.
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Training programs for the development of AI competence
Training programs must be tailored to the different needs of employees in order to build up AI skills in companies in a sustainable way.
The introduction of AI is a company-wide transformation process that does not affect all employees equally.
It is therefore important to design training programs in a targeted manner in order to ensure that all employees have the right level of knowledge.
For newcomers, it is crucial to develop a basic understanding of artificial intelligence and how it works.
This can be done through interactive introductory workshops in which employees learn about the basic concepts of machine learning and the application of AI systems.
Advanced employees, on the other hand, should receive in-depth training that focuses on specific technologies such as language models or deep learning.
Practical workshops in which employees can work directly with the technologies are particularly effective.
This gives them the opportunity to try out what they have learned in real use cases and improve their skills in using AI tools such as ChatGPT.
The role of managers in promoting AI skills
Managers play a central role in building a data-driven culture in companies.
They must build up their own AI skills in order to be able to have a say in the long term and at the same time actively promote the development of skills in their teams.
This requires investment in training that is tailored to the needs of employees. Managers should also create an environment in which data-based decisions are encouraged.
They can, for example Best Practices show how AI systems can be used in day-to-day business and thus strengthen confidence in the technology.
Continuous employee training is essential.
It is not enough to invest in one-off training courses.
Instead, skills development must be seen as a long-term strategy.
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Practical tips for companies on building AI expertise
It is important to take a targeted approach and systematically design the process in order to successfully build up expertise in companies.
Here are a few tips:
Assessment of existing skills: Companies should first take stock of their employees’ current skills.
This is the only way to determine which skills are already available and where there are gaps.Integration into everyday working life: Training is only effective if employees have the opportunity to apply what they have learned directly.
The use of AI tools should therefore be integrated into the daily workflow so that employees can gain practical experience.Creating incentives for further training: Companies should offer their employees incentives for further training.
This can be done through internal programs or through cooperation with universities and technology providers.Community engagement: Participation in AI communities and hackathons enables employees to exchange ideas with other specialists and learn from new developments.
AI regulation and AI competence
The European Union’s AI Regulation (AI Regulation) stipulates that companies must ensure that their employees have the necessary AI skills to work safely and responsibly with AI systems.
This applies in particular to companies that use self-developed or externally developed AI technologies in their business processes.
Employers are obliged to provide their employees with comprehensive training.
This training should not only cover technical aspects, but also take ethical and legal issues into account.
To ensure that all employees understand and implement the requirements of the AI Regulation, companies can develop a code of conduct that sets out clear guidelines for dealing with AI.
Relevant questions on AI competence
FAQs on building AI expertise
Developing AI skills is crucial to successfully mastering technological change.
Companies that invest in training their employees can use AI technologies effectively, promote innovation and remain competitive.
Without sound AI skills, there is a risk of poor decisions and a lack of competitiveness.
In addition, the EU’s AI regulation requires the development of skills in artificial intelligence.
Important AI skills include prompt engineering, data sensitivity, critical thinking and risk management.
Employees must learn to precisely control AI tools, critically scrutinize results and observe data protection regulations.
These skills ensure the safe and effective use of AI technologies.
Companies can promote skills development through tailored training programs, practical workshops and the integration of AI into everyday working life.
A clear strategy that is tailored to the respective level of knowledge of the employees makes it possible to develop and maintain skills in a targeted manner.
We support you in developing AI skills with our AI training courses.
The EU’s AI Regulation obliges companies to train their employees in the safe use of AI.
This includes ensuring that employees understand the technological as well as the legal and ethical risks.
Companies must ensure that their employees can fully implement the requirements of the regulation.
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Conclusion: build up AI skills at an early stage
Building up AI expertise is not only a technical step, but also a strategic one that ensures the long-term success of a company.
With the AI regulation, the development of AI expertise is becoming mandatory.
Through targeted training programs, the development of a data-driven corporate culture and the active involvement of employees in the transformation process, companies can ensure that they exploit the full potential of artificial intelligence.
The path to a successful AI transformation starts with investing in the skills of your own workforce.