Essentially, success is about intentionally partnering with the humans who will be directly affected by an AI deployment more than it is about merely keeping a human in the loop.

“Human in the loop” implies maintenance rather than partnership. Wanting a human involved because the machine can’t be trusted. Keeping an eye on it. Providing damage control. Thinking that injecting humanity into the workflow is merely a safety measure.

Instead, the non-technical humans who are expected to work with these AI tools MUST be included at the genesis of the AI development effort, not as end users who are expected to adapt to the software.

Why? As Ms. Mesaglio explains, “Behavior matters because humans respond differently to AI machines.” People react much more emotionally to AI-powered applications than they do when working with tools that don’t interactively communicate. And that creates an adoption challenge in organizations that goes far beyond making AI technology available to non-technical users. AI may be able to improve workflows to boost our ROI, but what is the ultimate impact on our employees, our stakeholders, and our brand? Most importantly, how should we measure and manage those non-monetary impacts?

Giving a computer to a guidance counselor isn’t something that would likely generate fear but giving that same person an AI tool that students can consult for advice 24/7/365 just might. This is particularly true if there’s been no discussion about how that counselor’s job description should change as a result of engaging this intelligent application, which is more like a new employee than a tool.

So, introducing AI is as much about relationship building as it is technology design. And it’s just as complex as any other relationship with respect to depth, dependence, and duration.

Other impacts that AI integrations can trigger include the potential for “skills atrophy” when humans delegate complex tasks to AI and whether compensation shifts with the “experience compression” that happens when a new-hire with an AI tool can outperform a senior employee. What becomes of career paths and talent strategy?

Many institutions are taking this summer to organize AI committees and task forces. But tools and technology are only part of the effort. Integrating AI behavior and psychology into the initiative is a crucial aspect for ensuring a successful AI adoption strategy.

InforMaven can help. We provide guaranteed results with a proven system that transforms non-technical administrators into capable AI application designers using a human-focused process that only involves 4 hours of training.

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