Upskill Your Employees Using AI Technology

AI has emerged as a game-changer for businesses across multiple industries. But as AI adoption accelerates, one of the most important considerations is how it’s affecting your current workforce. While you may be eager to invest in AI to stay competitive, your team members may be more hesitant. Nearly a quarter of employees are worried about AI taking their jobs, according to a recent Gallup survey. That’s why an AI training plan is essential to help ease these concerns and unlock AI’s true potential.

G-P’s AI at Work report revealed that leaders think AI can successfully impact areas like digital transformation, market risk predictions, and regulatory compliance. However, AI alone cannot achieve these goals without the right people and processes in place. To unlock the full advantages that AI can bring, it’s key that you consider the skills of your employees alongside the capabilities of AI. Let’s look at how leaders can successfully strike a balance between embracing AI to transform their operations and building a strong workforce with the skills to support this technology.

Is AI going to take your employees’ jobs?

While many employees fear AI may replace them at work, Nat Natarajan, Chief Product and Strategy Officer at G-P, believes that with the right preparation and training, this won’t be the case. “We believe at our core that combining the human talent we have with technology and AI is the best combination of experiences for our customers. We don’t believe AI will replace people. It will augment what we do.” 

AI can enhance job efficiency by handling time-consuming tasks such as research and coding. And because the shelf life of tech skills has been reduced to four years, teaching employees about AI can actually enhance their job security while increasing talent retention and fostering a culture that maximizes AI’s advantages. 

What does AI upskilling entail?

There are two main types of AI upskilling for employees: training for technical roles or non-technical roles. Employees with non-technical roles can focus on areas of AI like machine learning (ML) algorithms and predictive analytics to improve their analytical and decision-making skills across their day-to-day work. This can include learning how to use AI-powered tools like chatbots, how to interpret data generated by AI, and how to combine AI insights with their own judgment to make better decisions. For example, you could train your marketing talent to use AI for targeted campaigns or your HR professionals to use AI to optimize recruitment timelines.

The second type of AI upskilling is more technical and is designed for roles that involve creating, customizing, or maintaining AI solutions, such as software developers. This could vary from training in model evaluation using tools like Python to understanding how AI and ML systems are integrated into larger software systems, or how to deploy deep learning models into operational environments.

How to plan an AI upskilling strategy for your employees

Even though AI can help automate many key business processes, you will still need people to give critical context. So training talent in AI gives you the double bonus of cutting-edge AI mixed with human experience to make better decisions. The journey to upskilling will vary for each company, but fundamentally, AI training requires multiple levels of expertise. This includes a culture where senior leaders continue to lean in and emphasize the importance of using AI at work. Leaders must also figure out what skills their team has now and what skills they’ll need in the future, while giving each employee a personalized learning plan. 

“This [upskilling employees] requires a well-structured approach involving assessment and skills gap analysis, targeted training focusing on areas like data science, advanced machine learning techniques, hands-on experience with real problem projects, and ongoing support,” said Pooja Chugh, Director of Talent Acquisition at G-P. “While it may take time, it can lead to a more sustainable and integrated adoption of AI within the organization, leveraging the strengths of employees who already understand the company’s business and culture.” 

Transform your business outcomes by empowering your employees with AI.

When your workforce is trained in AI, they can tackle challenging problems, spark innovation, and achieve overperforming results for your business. AI training also helps with retention efforts, so your HR teams won’t have to worry about being locked in a cycle of onboarding and offboarding during today’s competitive hiring landscape. This means they can focus on other important tasks that will improve your workforce, like benefits administration, policy management, and employee relations, to name a few. Here’s how investing in both AI and employee upskilling can benefit various industries.

Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG):

Upskilling employees in the CPG industry on ML algorithms and data analytics can make your team more data-driven and efficient. Managing data effectively in the CPG industry is challenging because there are so many source points, from retailers and suppliers to manufacturers and consumers. But training employees on ML algorithms and data analytics can unlock the powerful ability to predict factors like consumer demand and optimize inventory levels. According to McKinsey research, one consumer company used a large language model (LLM) to simplify financial planning and analysis, saving up to 30% of the time spent on research.

Biotech:

Upskilling employees in the biotech industry on data analysis, predictive modeling, and automation can fuel innovation and medical developments. For example, data science skills can be used to identify biomarkers, and researchers from China recently used deep learning models to accurately detect lung cancer from lymph node biopsies. AI training will be key in the biotech industry, where skills like analyzing large biological datasets and running advanced simulations can accelerate discoveries that can improve precision healthcare.

Business services:

Equipping employees in the business services industry with AI skills enables them to use tools that can automate repetitive tasks like data entry and report generation. For instance, training employees on robotic process automation (RPA) tools can reduce processing times and risk of human error, and streamline key administrative workflows like form completion, data extraction, and file management. A 2024 Thomson Reuters survey on AI usage in business services found that legal industry respondents used AI tools for cost savings, their ability to allow employees to spend more time on high-value tasks, and their capacity to aid in quality control checks. 

Manufacturing:

Upskilling employees in the manufacturing industry on processes like ML, natural language processing (NLP), and predictive analytics can lead to higher productivity with fewer errors, better workflow management, and reduced downtime. According to McKinsey Global Institute, manufacturing is one of the most data-intensive industries, generating an average of 1.9 petabytes around the globe annually. But AI can help employees analyze real-time data to optimize workflows. Employees trained in predictive modeling can interpret machine data to schedule proactive maintenance before equipment failures happen. This is key in the manufacturing industry, as it minimizes the risk of operational delays or halts that could reduce efficiency and increase costs.

Technology:

Upskilling employees in the technology industry on AI automation and analytics tools means they can accomplish more in less time. Academics from the University of Lugano in Switzerland believe that AI skills — like ML, NLP, and automated testing — will cut software developers’ workload in half by helping with tasks like coding and bug detection. In areas like cybersecurity, training on deep learning models can help employees identify patterns in large datasets that they otherwise might miss. They can also use AI to build models using client logs and historical data that will identify attack patterns before they’re carried out. 

Empower your teams with G-P’s AI-powered solutions.

How we do business globally is constantly changing with the increased adoption of AI, and it takes careful planning, investment, and continuous learning to make the most of this ever-evolving technology. Hiring the right AI talent and implementing an ongoing training strategy for your new and existing employees is crucial to maximizing the benefits of AI. 

With G-P at your side, our AI-enabled global employment products and EOR solutions help you hire, onboard, and manage the global teams you’ll need to succeed. Powered by our proprietary AI knowledge base and data systems, our technology ensures you have the instant answers and expert insights to make informed decisions and expand compliantly in 180+ countries.

To learn more about how AI impacts the world of work, download our AI report today.