Do we already have the AI Skills we need?

I had an early thought heading into this week's conference. I am sharing it and will also reflect on this at the end of the week to see how my understanding of nonprofit AI adoption has changed. But I wonder if AI is not some other technology, and instead it is just technology that we already have the skills to adopt because we've done this before...

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, giants like Microsoft are dedicated to seamlessly incorporating AI into the tools we already wield, amplifying our productivity and efficiency. For us, the users, that means the technology we use will simply work better, allowing us to more efficiently and effectively complete our work.

Perhaps that means in this 'AI revolution' there's no need for a specialized AI skill set to master it. Instead, as AI integrates into the familiar tools we use daily, we simply need to leverage our existing skills of adopting and leveraging technology to get our work done. Our proficiency in adapting to technology at work (and in our personal lives) has been a skill honed over time, with each innovation initially appearing daunting, only to become second nature with practice.

Microsoft has outlined nonprofit AI adoption as a structured three-step journey: 1) Foundational Productivity, 2) AI & Automation, and 3) High-Performance Organization. The initial phase, Foundational Productivity, becomes significantly more attainable as technology providers seamlessly infuse AI into our existing toolkits. If we embrace this integration to get started, we can boost our productivity, enhance decision-making processes, and achieve more without the headache of navigating complex new systems.

Let's recognize and celebrate our existing expertise in technology adoption – a skill that has not only made us proficient with specific tech tools but has also cultivated an innate ability to embrace new technologies.