Multiverse: AI won’t live up its potential without a focus on human skills

Organizations are racing to implement AI, and reap the productivity rewards.

“Leaders are spending millions on AI tools, but their investment focus isn’t going to succeed. They think it’s a technology problem when it’s really a human and technology problem”, stated Gary Eimerman, Chief Learning Officer at Multiverse.

He added: “Without a deliberate focus on capabilities like analytical reasoning and creativity, as well as culture and behaviors, AI projects will never deliver up to their potential”.

It’s crucial that companies “take a beat and ensure your team has the support and training they need” to actually adopt AI effectively, Multiverse’s Senior Industrial Organizational Psychologist Imogen Stanley, tells UNLEASH.

The learning tech company did qualitative and quantitative analysis to uncover what skills employers need to focus on if they want to reap the full benefits of AI.

Let’s dig into the skills that Multiverse found that HR leaders need to prioritize in this AI-powered world of work.

Multiverse on the human skills gaps that could threaten AI adoption

Multiverse’s data uncovered 13 human skills for organizations to focus on – if they had a deficit in these that could jeopardize successful AI adoption.

Cognitive skills, like analytical reasoning, creativity, and systems thinking, as well as responsible AI skills, including AI ethics and cultural sensitivity, are top of mind.

Stanley shares: “Our research didn’t support recent findings that more frequent AI use leads to decline of certain durable skills, like critical thinking.

“Instead, we found evidence that critical thinking might be used differently in the age of AI, but it’s still very much present and actually has a critical role to play in working with AI.”

Multiverse also identified self-management skills – curiosity, self-regulated learning, detail orientation, determination and adaptability – plus communication capabilities in empathy, tailoring communications and exchanging feedback as essential for AI success.

She adds: “Skills that we would typically use to communicate clearly and build relationships with others are equally useful when refining prompts and improving AI output.”

Ultimately, HR leaders need to step up around learning and development in this age of AI.

Investing in learning will accelerate your AI success long-term, so ensure you’re matching your investment in AI tools with equal investment in training for the skills employees will need to adopt them – including both the technical skills, and these more durable ones”, concludes Stanley.