How to Keep up With AI in your Personal Business Life

AI software applications are coming on the market at an unprecedented rate. For leaders, staying ahead of this curve is not just beneficial, it's imperative to maintaining a competitive advantage and driving growth. However, integrating AI awareness into daily routines can be challenging with the many demands on a leader's time. In this article, I explore practical ways for executives to embed AI learning and applications into their everyday lives, ensuring they utilize the technology to maintain their competitive advantage.

One of the most effective strategies for staying current with AI developments is to block out dedicated time each week to focus on it - similar to the practice many executives use to find time to read. By having it on the calendar, it focuses the mind on a task to complete. This may be 30 mins per day or an hour a week - the key is to do it on a regular basis. Being proactive allows leaders to engage deeply with new trends, solutions, and innovations in the field of AI. Listed below are some of the areas and links that can be used for learning during that time.  

Identifying new apps on the market

1.     Curated Reading List: Spend the time reviewing a curated list of AI-focused articles and news. Sign up for newsletters that deliver summaries of new tools and software. You can find a list of the top AI newsletters of 2024 here.

2.     Podcasts and Videos: Save videos contained in newsletters, or posted on Social Media, and use your downtime to watch them. If that is not an option, follow AI and tech-related podcasts, which can be listened to during commutes or other. Here is a list of business related AI Podcasts.

3.     Social Media: Follow #AI hashtags and AI influencers, who cover both new applications and how to use them on platforms like LinkedIn and X (Twitter). Linked In has many AI influencers, here is a good list to start with.

4.     Google it: Simply ask Google what the latest AI apps are and see what comes up. Be specific, don't go down a path that is not relevant - keep to your time slot.

5.     Recommendations: Lastly, ask colleagues what they are using and what they find useful, or find a coworker who lives in this space – often they have done a first pass evaluation, taking one step out of the discovery process.

Use Them in Your Daily Life for Maximum Efficiency

• Experiment with New Apps: Spend your time trying out the new AI applications you have found in your regular dives to understand their capabilities and user interfaces. Do they work for you?
• Tech Tools Adoption: Integrate AI-driven tools into daily work processes, such as using AI for scheduling or email management. The good ones are straightforward and quick to set up – if it takes too long, there’s probably something else on the market that does the same, only better.

Incorporate your learning into the company ~ Diving Deeper

 1.    Regular Discussions with IT Teams: Schedule a bi-weekly/monthly 30-60 minute meeting with the CIO/CTO or tech innovation teams to stay updated on internal tech developments they are working on and explore new ideas. This will keep you updated on software they are considering, and also may provide you with personal recommendations.

2.     Attend Conferences: Block out time to attend relevant conferences or workshops, either virtually or in-person.  Depending on the event, this might range from an hour to several hours monthly.

Conclusion

Incorporating these practices into daily routines will not not only enhance your understanding and application of AI but also drive a culture of continuous learning and innovation within the company. By consciously blocking a manageable timeslot in the week to focus on this, you can ensure that not only does the company keep a competitive edge, but from a personal standpoint you continue to enhance your personal development and stay relevant in the business world as it rapidly changes.

AI won’t replace you, but someone who uses AI will.  

#AI #continuouslearning