What Do You Ask First?

Many people have heard plenty about AI before ever trying it. Some say it is remarkable. Others say it gets things wrong or will take their jobs. But while introducing AI across the group, a more basic difficulty has emerged: some colleagues open the tool and have no idea what to type first. They have familiar tasks to handle every day, yet have not made the connection between those tasks and what AI might help with. When the uses remain abstract, other people’s opinions can easily become their understanding of the technology. The tool is in front of them. Where to begin is still unclear.

Training can start there. Rather than introducing a long list of features, begin with one real task: a handover note that needs organising, a customer enquiry that needs a reply, or a report prepared every week. Work through it together, explain the background, describe what is needed, then examine what is useful and what needs changing. The first attempt may be imperfect. What matters is helping colleagues see another way to approach their own work. The encouraging next step is a question they ask themselves: “Could it help with this other task too?” That gives learning a chance to continue after the training session ends.

Last week, I wrote about the person who understands the business and brings AI into daily operations. Part of that role is helping colleagues find a starting point. People already comfortable with these tools can underestimate how unfamiliar a blank prompt box feels. It is easy to assume that providing an account and a few demonstrations will be enough. But different roles have different needs, and the same demonstration will not help everyone see a use for it. Before asking why colleagues are still not using AI, management could ask: “Have we shown them how it could help with the work they need to do today?” Someone who cannot yet see what AI could do for them should not be too quickly labelled resistant to change.