Decidr

The rate of AI adoption has reached exponential levels, with a plethora of tools being used across most industries.

The vast majority of these involve the use of generative AI to save time.

Tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity AI are being used for content creation such as newsletters, EDMs, captions and special posts. Similarly, DALL-E is used in the same way for image generation.

This approach aims at enhancing productivity rather than driving transformative innovation. Yes, they're powerful tools – ones that the mainstream couldn’t have even imagined just a handful of years ago. But they're also mostly used with a narrow scope in mind.

In other words, quantity doesn’t necessitate quality.

Despite growing adoption, many companies aren’t actually maximising AI to its full potential.

Businesses and leaders need to evolve beyond treating AI as a mere copilot for routine tasks and instead explore its ability to create entirely new processes and business tools.

The AI barriers

There are a few reasons for the under-utilisation of AI, despite it seeming like every business is using it in some capacity.

The first is a lack of knowledge. There’s a huge gap here when it comes to properly leveraging AI and understanding its true capabilities.

Many business owners are unaware of the broader applications of AI beyond their immediate use cases — things like predictive analytics or advanced customer service solutions. And those that do often don’t have the technical know-how or resources to deploy these features.

After all, AI can be extremely pricey. But it doesn’t have to be.

Some also fear that AI is a threat to their business, particularly when it comes to unique selling propositions.

This fear can lead to resistance against integrating AI into core business processes. It's essential to address these fears by highlighting how AI can complement rather than replace human efforts, enhancing overall business performance.

Sticking one's head in the sand will only hurt your businesses in the long run.

Internal policy restrictions can also play a part, with some businesses limiting AI use, particularly around content creation and artistic licensing.

These restrictions often stem from concerns around AI's biases, ethical implications and IP protection and safety. And those are completely valid concerns, particularly when a lot of cookie cutter generative AI tools have had issues in all of those areas, even those released by tech giants such as Google and Microsoft.

It’s also fair to be wary when so many workers are using AI for work under the table.

Sometimes even those with an open mind to AI can also inadvertently create barriers. Many businesses are attempting to use AI by retrofitting it into existing processes and legacy systems.

This conservative approach limits the transformative impact that AI can have on business models, as well as the experiences of both customers and employees.

And this is a shame because the popularity of this current implementation path means that only a select few will truly reap the rewards of AI.

For example, a law firm using AI to simply correct typos and generate standardised contracts misses an opportunity to offer a service that enhances their client’s legal protection.

It’s only businesses that develop a holistic approach and recognise that AI is changing the game that will have any kind of competitive advantage in what will become the new normal for BizOps.

Actionable steps you can take today

It's clear that AI isn’t going anywhere. So businesses are better off facing these issues now and creating processes to implement AI that's bespoke and fit for purpose.

Fortunately, there's plenty you can do right now to maximise AI potential in your business.

1. Educate and upskill: Businesses should invest in AI education and training to bridge the knowledge gap and enable their teams to use AI effectively, openly and safely. This includes workshops, online courses and collaborative projects that expose employees to the latest AI technologies and their applications.
2. Rethink business processes: Encourage a shift in perspective to rethink and redesign business processes with AI integration at the core. This should include open and honest conversations from management with its employees in order to recognise and address the pain and fear points. Businesses can also conduct AI audits to identify areas where the right tools can add the most value and redesign workflows in a meaningful way.
3. Collaborate with AI: Promote collaboration between human expertise and AI capabilities to enhance services and products. This involves creating interdisciplinary teams that combine AI specialists with domain experts to develop innovative solutions.
4. Adapt to AI advancements: Emphasise the importance of staying up to date with AI advancements and integrating them into business strategies to avoid obsolescence. Businesses should establish continuous learning programs and partnerships with AI research institutions to stay at the forefront of AI developments.