How to be an AI champion for your workplace

When there’s significant change in an organisation, champions are the people that put their hands up to answer their colleagues’ questions, to provide basic training and to be an advocate for a tool’s adoption. But what are some key things to consider when putting yourself forward or identifying your organisations’ AI champion?

Expand your AI horizons

Research and grow your knowledge – not just the AI tool your organisation is implementing – but also other AI tools across the digital landscape. Taking this holistic view to AI will prepare you for any questions that might come your way, and give you the confidence to communicate how your AI system might differ to others your colleagues have encountered. 

An AI champion doesn’t necessarily need to be the staff involved implementing the new tools, but they should at least be along for the ride to learn the reasons for the new systems, the intended benefits and use cases of the systems, and all the key information their colleagues need to know.

Set up an AI channel or chat

Whether you’re on Teams, Slack, Google Meet or any other workplace communications tool, setting up a destination for AI inquiries will help other users feel comfortable using AI safely. It will also encourage staff to begin their own AI learning journey and connect colleagues to help one another, so the burden doesn’t just fall on you. 

Set a time on the calendar at least weekly to jump into the chat with a prompting question, to ensure engagement remains active, and reminding people of the tools available to them.

Run casual info sessions, lunch-and-learns or Q&As

Set up and run informal training sessions for your staff. If running them over lunch, make the barrier to entry and involvement easy so that your colleagues can listen while eating.

If you want more involvement, setting something up mid-morning is probably best for most people’s energy levels. Always avoid Fridays!

You can also encourage your staff to join one of our many AI webinars, follow our expert guides or read one of our case studies to see how AI is being utilised by other not-for-profits. 

Advocate for adoption

Presumably you’re nominating yourself to be an AI champion because you believe in its ability to affect real, positive change within your organisation or the community. So use your voice to be an advocate for adoption with your team and the wider organisation. 

Find practical use cases, experiment with the latest tools, run presentations and make evidence-based business cases for AI adoption up to senior leadership. Be the change you want to see.

You can be the leader of change

Your enthusiasm and eagerness to learn – and share those learnings – will be an incredible asset for your organisations journey to AI adoption. If you’d like to test your organisations for AI readiness, complete our AI Readiness Assessment Quiz. 

Already ready? Take the AI Procurement Quiz to discover your organisations pathway. 

Looking for expert advice? If you’d like support scoping your potential AI solutions, reach out to set up a mentoring consult with our AI experts.