Just Get Started

Just Get Started

Pretend you’ve never used a computer. Then one day you show up at work, and suddenly you’re expected to know how to use Outlook, Salesforce, Adobe, and half a dozen social media platforms. To most people, these are standard, low barrier of entry tools. But if you’ve never even opened a laptop, how would you know where to begin?  

Replace computer with AI, and Outlook, Salesforce, and social media with OpenAI, agents, and prompt engineering - and that’s a reality many people will face (sooner than you’d think) if they aren’t willing to start incorporating AI into their businesses NOW.  

We’re seeing AI evolve even faster than the tech that came before it. The time is coming when AI fluency will be the standard – the expectation of entry level workers and seasoned professionals alike.  

This isn’t a fire and brimstone article, I promise.

But the “AI revolution” is already underway. It’s not a distant future event—you won’t have to wait and see if it’s here to stay. In fact, about 50% of employees are already using some form of AI at work, often without their employers' formal approval. What does that mean for business owners?  

1. It puts them into a situation where some employees are benefiting from AI, but without an operationalized AI strategy, the business as a whole isn’t benefitting.
2. Without an AI strategy or acceptable use policy, the business risks employees inadvertantly exposing sensitive or proprietary information to AI models
3. They aren’t investing in upskilling and training their employees to make the most of this generational moment
4. It places organizations at a crossroads: they must either embrace AI securely and strategically or risk falling behind.  

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‍Understanding the Risks

Data Security & Privacy: Without protective measures like secure AI, employees might unintentionally feed confidential or sensitive information into a free AI model’s training data. This could allow outsiders to access your proprietary information and use it for their own purposes.

Hallucinations: AI sometimes generates information that isn't accurate or real, in an attempt to provide a complete answer. Education and training are essential to help users navigate this issue.

Unstandardized Methods: Consistency is key. Imagine the chaos that would ensue if half of your team used Gmail while the other half used Outlook. Using the same AI platform ensures standardized collaboration and maximizes the benefits.

Falling Behind: AI itself won't replace all of your jobs, but individuals proficient in AI tools will have the upper hand, as noted by economist Richard Baldwin and others. As AI becomes more prevalent in the workplace, proficiency will become a standard requirement. The best way to mitigate these risks is to simply get started.  

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‍Taking the First Step

Many organizations are at the starting line of their AI journey, facing challenges like job replacement fears, ethical concerns, and skepticism about technology. Fortunately, employees may already be using AI, knowingly or unknowingly. The key to success is to channel this organic adoption into a secure, structured framework. Leverage the momentum and curiosity your team already has.  

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‍Starting Small, Thinking Big

Embarking on your AI journey doesn’t mean tackling everything at once. It’s easy to overestimate AI’s short-term impact and underestimate its long-term potential. AI adoption demands a strategic approach that combines both top-down and bottom-up initiatives:

Top-down elements include:

• A secure AI platform

• A company-wide AI strategy

• Acceptable use policies for AI

• Employee training

Bottom-up elements include:

• AI adoption at the user level

• Individuals finding efficiency gains with AI

• Use case identification

• Access to multiple AI models and tools

‍The Maturity Model: Crawl, Walk, Run

Successful AI implementation follows a natural progression.

Universal Use Cases: Begin with low-hanging fruit—applications that deliver immediate value, work for a broad part of the company, and can be implemented quickly.

Templated Solutions: Progress to more customized applications that require adaptation, can be replicated across departments, and need iterative development.

Specialized Implementation: Finally, address unique use cases that serve specific business units, require specialized expertise, and deliver high impact through custom solutions.

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‍Just Get Started

The central message is: don’t let the pursuit of perfection hinder progress. Here’s how to begin.

Start with Secure Foundations:

• Implement a secure AI chat platform

• Establish basic governance

• Train key team members

Focus on Quick Wins:

• Identify 2-3 universal use cases

• Measure and communicate success

• Build momentum through visible results

Build Capability:

• Invest in AI training and certification

• Develop internal expertise

• Create feedback loops for continuous improvement.

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You don’t need to have everything figured out to start.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step—and with AI, there’s no better time to take that step than now. Don’t let perfection be the enemy of progress. Start your secure AI journey today and position your organization for success in an AI-enabled future. Reach out to us to learn how you can experience Hatz AI for yourself!