Design Feedback Loops

The careful design of feedback loops is critical to developing an organization’s AI muscle. Thoughtfully cultivate communication channels that will surface concerns and tap into grassroots innovation happening closest to workflows and customers. Use this structure to nurture a shared understanding of responsible AI development and foster meaningful dialogue that supports organizational change. Formalize regular retrospectives or debriefs after implementing new AI approaches, making continuous improvement an integral part of your process.

Make It a Team Sport

Accelerate learning by forming smaller “learning circles,” or workgroups of people united by their enthusiasm to explore specific AI topics. Establish a regular format and frequency for sharing sessions where members discuss their discoveries, explore implications, and refine key questions. This approach ensures time is allocated to the open-ended exploration that is so important for driving new insights and can energize learning efforts because people feel accountable to their team members. Additionally, organize team activities that make it fun to explore use cases for AI. I’ve had clients create “Curiosity Cafes” (informal learning and ideation spaces complete with baristas), “No-Code Hackathons” designed specifically for non-technical newbies, “AI Challenge Leagues” to gamify the exploration process, or “Swap Sessions” where team members can freely discuss AI questions and experiences over food or drinks. Organizations often find there is so much interest in learning about the technology that events are frequently oversubscribed. When this approach works best, it ends up building a community of AI explorers in your organization, and by not only plugging into this community but supporting and celebrating its success, you can foster a great deal of AI momentum in your company.