There's one key thing companies must do when they bring AI into the workplace, BCG's AI ethics officer says

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, companies aiming for successful implementation must prioritize employee training. Steven Mills, the Global Chief AI Ethics Officer at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), emphasized the importance of providing adequate hands-on training, coaching, and mentoring. According to Mills, employees typically require around five hours of this support, yet only about one-third currently receive it. Speaking at Semafor's World Economic Summit, Mills highlighted that employees often discover the true value of AI once they experience its practical benefits. "For instance, when they start using AI tools to enhance tasks like email composition, they realize the effectiveness and quickly begin to explore further applications within their work," he explained. This initial exposure creates a positive feedback loop, where increased value leads to more frequent use of AI technologies. A recent BCG report revealed a concerning statistic: merely 5% of organizations are extracting meaningful value from AI initiatives. Mills stressed the need for companies to rethink their business processes and service offerings, advocating for a transformation rather than merely viewing AI as an additional tool. "Organizations must step back and consider how AI can fundamentally reshape their operations, rather than simply integrating it into outdated human-centric workflows," he stated. Mills also noted that as private sector adoption of AI accelerates, public sector officials are beginning to catch up. "Governments have been somewhat behind the curve, but they are rapidly adapting in a way we've not seen before," he remarked. Leading AI firms such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, Google, and Microsoft are providing their AI solutions at minimal costs to federal entities, which Mills believes will lead to substantial advancements in adoption rates. "As people become accustomed to utilizing this technology in their personal lives, they will increasingly demand similar access in their professional environments," he concluded.