AI is in Our Workplace; This is What We Actually Do with It

The conversation around “AI in the workplace” is often filled with two extremes: speculation on what AI in business means for us as a society or overviews of specific use cases without added context on how this comes to life. Researching this space – from AI readiness checklists to product testimonials – fails to answer the question; what does it really look like for a company to successfully adopt AI? At Athena, we’ve been on this journey, and we’re sharing the practical steps we’ve taken to become power users of AI technology.

Talking About AI

AI adoption isn’t a one-and-done task; it requires ongoing dedication and dialogue. In April of this year, we rolled out Copilot for Microsoft 365 as an integrated tool across the organization. As early adopters of Copilot this was an exciting journey – limited documentation and a rapidly changing UX left our AI taskforce scratching their heads on more than one occasion leading up to our full company launch. Several workshops later, our full team had a strong understanding of Athena’s AI principles and how to utilize Copilot. However, adoption is more complex than just giving employees access to a tool. What good is AI if no one feels confident using it? A consistent piece of feedback that we’ve received from team members is that it can be difficult to figure out what to use gen-AI for, even though it is available across the platforms and areas where we do most of our work. Alternatively, we hear from people trying to use AI and struggling to get results they are happy with. This underscores a need to spark inspiration through continuous discussions about what AI is and what it can do beyond sharing lists of prompts and generic use cases. At Athena, we make sure AI stays a regular topic of conversation, whether through training, roundtable discussions, or casual team meetings. This constant dialogue helps us stay updated on AI developments, share insights, and address any concerns or challenges that arise. It’s about creating a culture where AI is seen as an evolving tool, not a static solution.

Continuing Education, Training, and Research

Education is the foundation of our AI strategy, and our understanding of AI has evolved from viewing it as a tool to embracing it as a collaborator throughout our daily tasks. However, effectively using AI as a collaborator requires confronting five challenging truths:

Poor communication is still ineffective, even with AI.
AI demands intentionality—thinking through problems is crucial.
AI can enhance tasks you’re already capable of handling.
While AI may not always save time, it can significantly elevate work quality.
AI isn’t magic; it requires your ongoing effort to succeed.

To address these realities, we emphasize continuous learning to ensure our team not only understands AI but can harness its full potential. In my time supporting this project, I’ve noticed an improvement in my own communication and critical thinking skills because of my dedication to mastering prompt engineering. By staying informed about AI’s evolving capabilities, we refine our approach and keep ahead of the curve, maximizing AI’s value in our business.

Considering Ethical Implementation

Ethics are not just a consideration in AI adoption; they are the foundation on which we build our approach. From safeguarding data privacy to preventing bias in AI-driven decisions, we are committed to ensuring that our AI usage aligns with our core values and ethical standards. This commitment involves rigorous research and thorough vetting of every AI tool before it reaches our team or clients. Before rolling out a tool boasting availability of real-time data, for example, thorough testing showed frequent issues with unreliable information due to potentially biased training data. Equally important is our unwavering accountability for anything produced using AI. These practices are essential for maintaining trust, both within our team and with our clients.

Using AI to Elevate the Skills That Your Employees Have

At Athena, AI is not about replacing human ability; it’s about amplifying it. We use AI to build upon the skills our employees already excel at, supporting our teams in becoming more efficient, creative, and strategic. In a corporate environment, problem-solving, communication, critical thinking, strategy, and organization are key. Every AI solution we implement enhances these essential skills, driving innovation. Throughout this journey we have also learned the strengths of different tools vary – even ones positioned as using the same LLMs. Understanding which AI driven tools are best for a given use case is a critical component to fully realizing their value. For example, we’ve leveraged Copilot to distill thousands of open-ended survey responses into actionable insights, tailored to resonate with our clients. We’ve similarly used gen-AI tools such as ChatGPT to create informed social copy from website content and Perplexity to compile extensive research on innovation centers across the country. By enhancing existing skills, we ensure that AI complements our human talent, fostering collaboration rather than competition.

A Starting Point, Not an End

Our journey with AI at Athena is just beginning and will continue to evolve, opening new possibilities for our business. AI has become an integral part of how we work, but this is only the start. We challenge you to join us in embracing AI, committing to continuous education, and engaging in ongoing conversations to unlock its full potential. The future is ours to shape—let’s keep pushing the boundaries together.

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