At our May Systeum Hub: AI Insights, we had the opportunity to meet and chat with Daria Hvížďalová, an expert in AI in education who was featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2023. She leads AI Skills & Learning at Institute 42 London, heads AI EduLab at Sféra Pardubice, and acts as the program director of the international conference Creative Edge.
Daria shared her practical and international insights with us, and we discussed why the development of AI literacy is more topical than ever. Individuals, teams, and entire companies are facing a similar question today: How to effectively accept AI? What really works, and how to get the most out of it?
AI Literacy in Companies: The Most Common Challenges
There is great interest in AI in companies, and many are actively experimenting with new tools. However, many projects are hindered by a lack of responsibility and clearly defined roles.
A common problem is the lack of a project guarantor who would manage the project and help see it through to a successful end. Currently, projects are very often the responsibility of just the IT department, which is insufficient.
So how should companies approach AI projects?
Daria recommends ideally having a duo responsible for AI strategy. One person from business and the other with experience in development and architecture. Unfortunately, smaller companies often cannot afford to create such positions. That is why they also use external consultants, whose numbers have rapidly increased recently. However, it is important to choose carefully, as AI is evolving extremely quickly, and it is crucial that consultants keep up with the times."
Inspiration from South Korea: AI Education as a Natural Part of Practice
An inspiration not only for companies in the Czech Republic can be South Korea, which Daria recently visited to study the development of AI education among managers and programmers. South Korea invested the equivalent of 600 billion CZK in 2016 in data infrastructure and nationwide network coverage. Since then, it has regularly invested in the country's digital development, which in recent years also includes AI literacy. There is a wide range of educational programs focused on teachers, lecturers, and universities. Education is not limited to just a few experts; the government is trying to expand AI literacy throughout society as much as possible.
Standardized digital skills exams, which also include the field of AI literacy, are part of the system in South Korea. These exams are not intended only for IT specialists, but also concern managers applying for positions in international companies. They too must demonstrate the required knowledge in these tests. As Daria mentioned, the content of these exams is truly comprehensive: it is not only about being able to use AI in practice, but also understanding the differences between various types of artificial intelligence and knowing the basic principles of their functioning.
Could something like this work in our country, the Czech Republic?
"It would be great," says Daria. She immediately adds what the current situation is here. In the Czech Republic, the responsibility for education often lies with the individual or company, and there is a lack of systemic consolidation. Approaching AI education systematically would, of course, be costly, but certainly necessary and useful. However, even here things are slowly starting to happen; at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, there is now a deputy dedicated exclusively to the issue of AI.
Barriers to AI Adoption: What Stands Most in the Way (and Can It Be Changed)?
In practice, it often turns out that the success of AI project implementation depends on how well new technologies and changes are communicated to those who will actually work with them. Many people have a natural respect for change or feel uncertain, which often stems from a lack of information. Why are new tools being introduced, what exactly will they bring to them, and how will they fit into their everyday work? When there is not enough space for questions and sharing concerns, uncertainty can easily outweigh excitement about innovations.
How can you help your team open up to change in such a case?
Perhaps the most helpful is to lead by example. Show that you are not afraid of new technologies, actively try them out, and are not afraid to talk about what may not have worked at first. It also works great to involve colleagues in the creation and implementation of new solutions, so they are not just "recipients of change" but can have a say in it. It is important to create an open atmosphere where it is natural to ask questions and share experiences or frustrations, whether in internal discussions, workshops, or informal meetups. It is key to build support and motivation in the long term so that it persists even after the initial enthusiasm subsides.
Practical Tips for Leaders and Companies
If you are a leader or company owner, finding the time and motivation to try out new AI tools can be tough – schedules are packed, and the effect of such changes is often not immediately visible. However, your motivation can definitely be the fact that your competitors have already jumped into AI and you don't want to give them an unnecessary lead.
It's wise to expect that productivity might drop slightly at first as you get used to new processes, but in the long run, it definitely pays off.
Daria recommends:
- Try one new AI tool each month. This way, you'll find out what really helps you and keep up with the latest updates.
And at the same time, she adds: "I know no one wants to hear this, but it's something that's really done in the evenings and on weekends."
- At least once every six months, have your processes evaluated by someone from outside. External inspiration or a consultant often reveals improvement opportunities that would otherwise remain hidden.
- Focus on specialized AI tools tailored to specific departments (for example, for marketing, accounting, HR, etc.). These solutions bring faster and more concrete benefits than universal chatbots for everyone.
Specialized AI Tools: Integrate Where You Already Work
We hardly need to mention ChatGPT, most companies have already tried it today. But if you really want to get the most out of AI, it pays to go further and choose more specialized tools based on what environments are already commonly used in your company. The ideal way is to start with AI features and extensions in systems your teams already know, for example, in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, or other popular applications. Thanks to this, the innovation smoothly fits into existing processes, and people will learn to make full use of it more easily.
You can also simplify routine work with integrations and automation that combine data from various company systems, typically within company CRM.
Tip from Daria: If you're looking for a universal tool for automating and connecting various applications, try the Make.com platform.
During the hub, Daria also received several interesting questions from the audience, see what was discussed here.
Don't miss the panel discussion with all three guests either.
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