You still don't need to be an early AI adopter, but you do need to pay attention

Last year I wrote a post You don't need to be an early AI adopter, but pay attention. I shared some reports and links, focused on ethical and responsible use of AI. I wrote:

"Ignoring whether or not you care about being a frontrunner in AI adoption, I think a key point is that you don’t need to be. But you need to be paying attention. And maybe seeking out some early adopters to learn from and even partner with."

It's still true.

Today Statistics Canada published their Survey of Digital Technology and Internet Use, 2023.

The big takeaway for me? Use of artificial intelligence has increased noticeably since 2021.

HOWEVER...

You may feel like you're behind the curve given all we hear about when it comes to tech is AI this, AI that. In 2023 StatsCan reports that only "7% of Canadian businesses with five or more employees used software or hardware with AI." And "AI technologies were much less likely to be used than many other ICTs overall in 2023."

That is consistent with other similar studies about AI. That's an important perspective to be aware of as we ride the AI hype train together.

Like in our sector, of course larger organizations were more likely to use AI technologies than smaller orgs. And of course Generative AI is the most commonly used type of AI.

It's important that we explore the use of AI in our sector. And that we harness it for service delivery. And that we lead our funders' understanding of how it can be used. But we also need to continue the conversation of the use of technology broadly. Responsible, appropriate, ethical, Newcomer-centred technology use.

So, yes, experiment with and learn from those implementing AI. Because it is here to stay. But also experiment with and learn from those using other technologies: Digital Messaging, information & content sharing automation, CRM and data-driven client service, and so on.

The StatsCan report comes after a few other interesting reports I recently came across. I thought I'd share a few of them:

KPMG Canada's Generative AI Adoption Index

The Generative AI Adoption Index measures the use of generative AI tools among the Canadian population. The Index is based on a KPMG in Canada survey of 4,515 Canadians conducted from October 20 to November 6, 2023. Some interesting findings:

• Generative AI adoption is high but still has room to grow, with only 20% saying they use Generative AI. 20% of Canadian professionals surveyed are actively harnessing the power of generative AI in their workplaces.
• Generative AI is helping workers do more in less time, but is creating new threats that are going unchecked. There is a concerning trend of significant misuse of generative AI, including entering sensitive data at work, with 45% of users failing to verify outputs that may be inaccurate, misleading, or biased.
• Customers prefer to engage with brands that have Responsible AI frameworks in place, making it a key to building customer trust and competitive advantage.

Download the report here.

Microsoft Canada's Generative AI Opportunity report

Of note, the report says in order "to expand responsible adoption, six key enablers must be in place:

• Collaborative ecosystem.
• Public trust in Gen AI
• Clear policy framework
• Skilled workforces
• Progressive organizational culture and leaders
• Access to affordable models and infrastructure"

LinkedIn's New Framework for AI Upskilling Across Your Organization

Their "framework is organized into five levels of AI expertise. The first two levels contain foundational AI knowledge that all employees will need, while the top three levels require deep technical skills and specialized expertise: level 3 is designed for business power users, developers, and data engineers; level 4, for machine learning engineers; and level 5, for cloud specialists, cybersecurity professionals, data scientists, researchers, and those preparing for tech certifications."

It's worth a look, as their framework conveniently intersects with over 50 courses you can take on LinkedIn Learning. Also convenient is that for most of us LinkedIn Learning is available for free via our local library system. Most of these courses are short micro-courses. In 1 or 2 hours you can get up to speed on areas of AI that will be useful for you in your work.

Yes, you need to continue to pay attention. Like any technology, figure out how you might use Generative AI in your work. Others are. Your clients are. Your competitors are. You do need to continue to pay attention.