Understanding AI Literacy (and Why It’s Important)

Artificial intelligence has taken the world by storm, and you can now find it in just about all areas of life. Businesses in particular have a lot to gain from AI, yet many people still don’t know what it is, what it actually does, and, most importantly, how to use it well. Today, we’re tackling AI literacy and how you can use it to your benefit.

Explaining AI Literacy

AI literacy is how we refer to one’s ability to understand, use, and think critically about artificial intelligence. Since AI is all over the place now, it’s a skill important for not just developers, programmers, and tech experts, but everyone. Comparing it to digital literacy, which keeps users safe on the Internet, you can imagine that AI literacy helps you use AI in a safe, smart, and informed way.

Why is AI Literacy Important?

AI literacy is important for several reasons, many of which directly impact your business:

• AI is here and now - Social media algorithms, virtual assistants, and other features in popular software are here, and you need to be prepared to understand them to make better use of them.
• Your job might be in danger - AI is changing the way we work, from automating tasks to creating new opportunities. Don’t get left behind in all the excitement.
• Avoiding misinformation - AI isn’t always accurate, and deepfakes/false content are just as likely as the real stuff. If you’re AI-literate, you can identify what’s real and what’s not.
• Maintaining privacy and security - AI could make people realize how much data they give access to. If you know how these tools work, you can be more cognizant of how they impact your privacy and security.

How Can You Develop AI Literacy?

Here are some ways your business can promote AI literacy:

• Understand the basics - Programmers have done the hard part of building AI; understanding it is not as difficult as you might expect. There are online courses on Coursera and YouTube that can help you understand how they work.
• Try tools for yourself - Give some AI tools a try (ChatGPT, image generators, and voice assistants are good places to start). You’ll quickly learn what they’re good at… as well as what they’re not so good at.
• Think critically - Don’t trust that AI is giving you all the right answers. Question where the information came from and whether it’s biased or not. Consider if there are better solutions.
• Stay current - AI is still a developing technology, so follow the news and listen to podcasts for the latest developments and challenges.

Knowing how AI is used and how it impacts the world around us will become (or is already) a foundational skill, and you’ll need to hone it. Take today as an opportunity to start learning—and if you’re ready to start thinking about it from a business perspective, you can give our consultants a call at (402) 514-3200.