Hiring Your First AI Expert: What You Really Need to Know

Most businesses will eventually need someone to lead their AI efforts. The real challenge isn’t just buying software licenses; it’s about spotting the right chances to use AI and actually getting useful work done. This post looks at the skills someone in charge of AI needs, focusing on communication, knowing when to act, setting up processes, and delivering real business value. For UK business owners, it’s about making AI work for you without adding unnecessary complexity.

Key Takeaways

• Timing is Everything: Don’t rush into AI. Wait for the technology to be ready and for the right business opportunity.
• Communication is Key: Your AI lead needs to explain how AI works and its benefits to everyone in the company.
• Process Matters: They must be able to create and implement new processes to integrate AI effectively.
• Focus on Business Value: The ultimate goal is to use AI to improve the business, not just for the sake of using new technology.

The Right Time for AI

Ideas about AI are everywhere, and it’s easy to get excited. But just buying licenses won’t magically improve your business. Many AI projects fail to get used in the real world because they’re implemented too early. When dealing with new technology like AI, knowing when to implement it is just as important as having the idea itself.

Think about it like this: a researcher at BBC Research & Development realised years ago that it would be possible to add colour to old black and white footage. The trick was capturing colour information that was hidden in the original black and white signal. However, the technology to actually do this wasn’t available for another 15 to 20 years. It’s fine to wait, but you need to keep an eye on how things are developing. By tracking these opportunities, you can be ready to implement them when the technology matures.

Sometimes, an AI tool might work in a lab setting or after testing, but it’s not quite ready for everyday business use. There might be issues with reliability, data privacy, or the AI producing incorrect information (often called hallucinations). This doesn’t mean the technology won’t work eventually; it just means it needs more time. So, you can park that idea for now and revisit it later.

Skills for Your AI Lead

So, what should you look for in the person or people managing AI in your organisation? They need to do a few important things:

1. Bring People Along: They need to guide others through the changes AI brings.
2. Explain Clearly: They must be able to explain how the technology works and how it can help the business.
3. Understand the Tech: They need a grasp of the technical details involved in making AI work.
4. Build Processes: They should be able to create and introduce new ways of working that include AI.
5. Encourage Adoption: They need to get everyone, from the top bosses to the newest staff, on board with using AI.

Finding the perfect person for this role might be tricky. It’s not just about having lots of ideas; it’s about getting things done that actually benefit the business. If an AI project doesn’t add business value, it’s not really worth the effort.

Focusing on Business Value

It’s unlikely that businesses will suddenly replace large numbers of staff with AI. What’s more probable is that people will spend more time on their more important tasks and less time on repetitive, time-consuming work. We’ll have to wait and see how this plays out. There might even be businesses that run entirely on AI, but there will likely be resistance from people who find that AI doesn’t always work perfectly.

There are specific areas where AI is already proving very useful. Your AI lead, whatever you decide to call them – Head of AI, AI Evangelist, etc. – needs to be actively documenting and identifying these opportunities. More importantly, they need to be the ones making sure these AI solutions actually get implemented and start working.

Technology Changes, Processes Remain

It feels like just yesterday we were talking about the importance of email or getting a website for your business. Now, we’re moving to cloud services like Microsoft 365. Technology moves incredibly fast. However, the process of managing these changes tends to be quite similar. It involves rethinking and redesigning how things are done, which takes time.

Having someone who understands this process, perhaps someone who has been through similar technology shifts before, can be incredibly helpful for your company. It’s worth thinking about these points as you consider bringing AI into your business.