Why the importance of AI policy and training is growing

In recent years, the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace has grown exponentially. According to the 2024 Annual Work Trend Index, 75% of employees now use AI at work. Interestingly, 46% of these users have only started using AI tools within the past six months. This means that a large proportion of workers had to get used to AI in a short period of time, without much experience or guidance.

Despite this rapid adoption of AI in business, the 2024 State of Marketing AI Report reveals that 75% of companies do not yet offer internal AI-focused education or training. Less than 40% of organizations have a clear AI policy in place. This means many employees are using AI without actually really knowing how to use it properly, which can lead to unknowingly sharing trusted information and not using the tools correctly.

So why is an AI policy so important?

Using AI without clear policies carries risks. Without agreements or guidelines, employees may unknowingly deploy tools in ways that do not align with business strategy or may even harm the company. AI, when applied correctly, is a powerful tool to increase efficiency and drive innovation. But without a proper plan or clear agreements, its use can have just the opposite effect.

An AI policy provides structure and clarity within the organization. It helps teams better understand which tools may or may not be used and how to use these tools effectively and responsibly. Such a policy can include agreements about:

Which AI tools may be used.
How data is processed and secured.
What ethical guidelines apply when using AI.

Developing an AI policy doesn't have to be complicated. We have a free template you can use. By adapting it to your organization's specific needs, you can quickly create a good policy that will help integrate AI responsibly into your daily processes.

What AI tools are commonly used?

An important part of an effective AI policy is understanding what AI tools are being used within your organization and what agreements have been made about them. Many companies do not have a clear overview of the tools their employees are using. This lack of overview can lead to unnecessary risks.

According to the recently released third edition of the Top 100 Gen AI Consumer Apps, the market for AI tools is still going strong. Nearly 30% of the companies listed are new since the previous report in March 2024. This rapid change demonstrates how dynamic the market is and shows how necessary it is for companies to constantly keep abreast of new developments.

A useful starting point for organizations is to look at the most widely used AI tools. The Top 50 AI Tools list provides a good overview of the tools that are currently popular, both for Web users and mobile apps. By reviewing this list, you can better determine which tools are right for your team and what training is needed to deploy them effectively.

A future with AI requires a good AI policy

AI offers unprecedented opportunities for businesses, but without proper guidelines, its use can quickly spiral out of control. Creating an AI policy and providing targeted training to employees are essential steps to deploying AI in a safe and responsible manner. By streamlining and guiding the use of AI tools within your team, you will ensure that your organization takes full advantage of the benefits of this technology without losing sight of the risks.

Consider establishing an AI policy and offering appropriate training. That way you'll be ready for the future, when AI will play an even bigger role in the workplace.

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