Why Train When We Have AI?

I have a somewhat vested interest in providing quality training. You may think that might make me not a great fan of generative AI. After all, if Googling made do as training for some people, then AI must be a greater threat to trainers. I’m not sure it does, and I’d like to take a moment to say why. First of all, let’s answer the underlying question of why train people.

Why Train?

Any research into the reasons for training will provide a list of reasons that all suggest that staff training is critical to any organisation. I’m going to highlight a few here to help us think about training.

Increased Performance

This could also be increased productivity as the two go hand in hand. As training increases skills and knowledge people are able to work faster and more efficiently. Setting time aside for learning ends up boosting efficiency.

Managers gain more time

Capable and well-trained staff need to query their line managers less. This doesn’t dispense with the manager’s role. Instead, it enhances it. Freeing up time for managerial staff to work on larger questions or to create processes that improve the flow of work.

Better Morale

Training leads to confidence and confidence leads to morale. That helps to create satisfied staff. This helps breed loyalty and improves the workplace atmosphere for all.

What Does AI Bring?

Well it doesn’t replace people it helps them, here are some of the things AI brings to the table

Efficiency

AI’s can help with figuring out quick ways to do things or to help improve the automation of some tasks

Increased Productivity

Generative AI can take on tasks that can be time-consuming. Such as analysing a long email thread for key elements or building a framework for workflow automation. Giving back time to the staff using an AI.

Exploring Ideas

Being told to make something, like a form can be difficult when staring at a blank screen or piece of paper. Asking the question of generative AI fills the screen with ideas. You pick the most relevant or are sparked into thinking about something else. The job gets done.

Time to Introduce AI to Training

AI is good at grabbing the headlines as that thing which will steal work from creatives and white-collar workers alike. We can only know this by looking at the future but we can examine what it’s like to work with an AI. I have an example from using Copilot with Power Automate.

In this case, the AI didn’t replace training. It created a learning opportunity. It showed a possibility. Working with that possibility helped the class members learn more about the subject. We had a case of collaboration. Humans bring their skills and knowledge, the AI brings its. It’s harder to work with an AI if you have no skills. Learn some good skills and then collaborate with an AI and you have something very powerful

The Collaboration Model may be King

In the last example Copilot on its own didn’t solve the problem or replace human skills. What it did was provide a platform for skills to be used. If we think about AI as something that we work with to solve our problems then it doesn’t replace us. Instead, it gives us a co-worker. A well-trained person can both better evaluate what comes out of an AI and ask better questions. AI does not replace training. What it can do is enhance someone with training.

That’s why despite having generative AI we still need to train people.

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