"I'm not really worried about AI taking my job."
It's something I've heard a lot over the last year.
To be honest, I don't think that's the subject we should be talking about here.
The thing to ask though, is:
"Will someone who knows how to use AI be able to do parts of my job more quickly than I can?"
For most of us, the answer is probably yes.
And that's not meant to be frightening.
I've worked in Learning & Development for over 20 years, and every major change has followed a similar pattern. New software. New systems. New ways of working. At first people are understandably sceptical. Then curious. Eventually, it's just... how we work.
AI feels no different.
The biggest barrier I see isn't the technology itself.
It's fear.
Fear of getting it wrong.
Fear of looking daft.
Fear that using AI somehow means you're cheating.
The reality is that AI is becoming another workplace tool. No different to email, Excel or Google were when they first appeared.
Recent UK research found that 61% of workers feel overwhelmed by the speed at which AI is developing, even though more than half are excited about its potential.
Another survey found that 44% of UK workers worry they'll be left behind if they don't start using AI at work.
That tells me something.
Most people aren't resisting AI because they don't care.
They're resisting it because they don't know where to begin.
Ironically, businesses using AI are already reporting improvements in productivity, with more than half saying they've seen gains from adopting it.
For me, AI isn't about replacing people.
It's about giving people back time.
Time to think.
Time to create.
Time to have better conversations.
Time to do the parts of the job that only humans can do well.
You don't need to become an AI expert overnight.
Start by asking it to help you write an email.
Summarise a report.
Plan a meeting.
Brainstorm ideas.
Challenge your thinking.
You might be surprised how quickly it becomes part of your day.
The organisations that will benefit most won't necessarily be the ones with the biggest AI budgets.
They'll be the ones that give their people permission to learn without feeling embarrassed.
That's where the real change begins.
All the best
Tom