How communicators can run AI upskilling and adoption conversations

At Ragan’s AI Horizons Conference, Dr. Alexandre Sévigny, associate professor of communications management at McMaster University, told the audience that the changes AI poses are much more than a simple tool upgrade. It’s a cultural shift, and one that communicators are uniquely positioned to approach.

“You have to think about digital transformation,” Sévigny said. “And if your organization has an enterprise digital transformation plan, make sure you’re part of it. The more you’re part of the conversation, the less you’re subject to other people’s decisions on your behalf.”

Sévigny said that in his research, he’s identified that communicators need to think about planning before building prompts. He added that creating systems for skill building rather than single solutions with AI is the way to go.

“Focus on building up libraries, not just doing one-off chats with the robot,” he said. “Build in systems, think carefully and document your processes and your workflows. You have to narrativize your practice.”

Sévigny also said that internal communicators need to keep the emotional undercurrent of AI adoption in mind when broaching the subject with their colleagues.