Harnessing AI: Top 6 tips for leaders stepping into the future

“Harnessing AI” addresses a crucial issue: the notion of AI as just a tech specialty instead of a universal business enabler. AI is not an end in itself but an essential instrument for realizing both tactical and strategic ambitions. 

This article provides 6 invaluable tips, enabling leaders to incorporate AI through tailored learning, practical engagement, and strong leadership involvement. Each tip is a possible entry point to your AI journey, depending on your objectives and starting point. We have meticulously crafted this guidance for CEOs and executives. We’ve demystified AI and positioned it as central to innovation to maintain a competitive edge. As we navigate this AI-enhanced era, it’s paramount for business leaders to pioneer AI adoption, ensuring their organizations are always a step ahead.

Do “They” lead your AI initiatives?

“I need to see what They are doing with AI.” is a phrase we often hear in various forms when talking with business leaders. “They” are typically IT or someone from the HQ. “They” also seem to be working on some isolated tech exploration that doesn’t merit enough interest to be better understood. It’s common to find leaders well in tune with their industry, the broader economy, competition, legislation – anything that could present a significant risk or opportunity for them. Often, leaders are interested in AI but don’t have the time, resources, or know where to start.

The frequent deference to “They” highlights a disconnect. Is AI still perceived as a niche tool for tech-savvy companies only? Or is there a gap in understanding AI’s universal applicability? According to IDC, AI is applied across a wide range of industries. Banking, retail, professional services, and manufacturing will cover over half of global AI IT spending in 2026; the rest is split between the long tail. How can we turn the narrative about “What we, as business leaders, can do to harness AI?”

AI as a tool, not an objective

For businesses, AI is not the endgame. Instead, it’s a powerful tool to achieve objectives more efficiently. At its core, AI is about using algorithms and computational models to mimic human-like cognition to solve complex problems. McKinsey reports that organizations’ top objectives for generative AI activities are 1) cost reduction in the core business, 2) new business and revenue creation, and 3) increasing revenue from the core business. IDC lists similar monetary targets and adds customer experience/satisfaction and innovation to their top lists. Regardless of your objectives, AI can be a game-changer.

The ultimate goal remains to offer superior products or services to customers. Internal IT and related processes must be in shape to enable this. AI is ‘merely’ an enabler, streamlining processes and gleaning insights from vast data sets. Still, it’s the most influential tech enabler we have seen in our lifetimes. Leaders must understand the fundamentals of AI to guide their organization to harness AI. 

Our top 6 tips for leaders to harness AI

Learn AI theory
and foundation skills.

Tip 1: Build theoretical AI understanding

To advocate AI credibly, leaders must understand it, at least at a foundational level. People often get the basic AI terminology, such as algorithms, data, large language models, generative AI, fine-tuning, prompts, etc., mixed up. Understanding what AI can do and how it achieves its magic helps leaders ask their teams the right questions. Leaders have their guidance taken seriously when they don’t appear hopelessly out of tune. Having your AI terminology straight also improves your credibility in front of clients. 

So, where can I get started? The elements of AI, by the University of Helsinki et al., introduce AI’s workings. It’s a free online course for everyone interested in learning what AI is, what is possible (and not possible) with AI, and how it affects our lives – with no math or programming required. Understanding AI’s principles differs from applying them. While the former gives clarity, the latter brings innovation. (Foundational Knowledge vs. Practical Application) Although pitched as a 50-hour course, with prior knowledge, it became a side project for one weekend. 

Benefit: By grasping the foundational concepts of AI, leaders can ensure informed decision-making, eliminating reliance solely on technical teams.

Tip 2: Advance leadership-level technical AI skills

Grasping AI concepts theoretically is different from experiencing its transformative power firsthand. We can’t stress the importance of hands-on experience enough when harnessing AI. Microsoft’s Azure AI Fundamentals is an excellent training from Microsoft, arguably the AI cloud leader today. The learning module includes hands-on AI-building practices that I found very educational. Secondly, it demonstrates how much of the AI heavy lifting has been done and guides where to focus AI efforts. Thirdly, it’ll give further proficiency in using the correct terminology from algorithms to datasets and regression to tokens. The downside is that it takes a few days to review the material, build the Azure ML models, and take the certification.

Benefit: Leaders with technical AI proficiency can drive more precise strategic directives and better align with the product and IT teams on project outcomes.

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Tip 3: Make AI approachable in a minimal time

Every leader and organization is unique, but the lack of time is constant. So, AI learning shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. Overall, I liked the above-mentioned courses. I’d improve them by removing sections I found less exciting or already familiar. But that goes against the idea of standardized learning and certifications. So, how can we help you avoid the same challenge while harnessing AI for your needs?

The answer is the “Making AI approachable” webinar series. We’ve crafted bite-sized sessions that ensure maximum knowledge in minimal time. Recognizing leaders’ time constraints, we’ve picked the most relevant AI topics and distilled these 45-minute webinars to AI’s essentials. Topics span from the basics of AI to customization and costs.

Benefit: Streamlined learning modules allow leaders to integrate AI knowledge efficiently into their busy schedules, ensuring they stay updated without extensive time commitments.

Tip 4: Customize AI learning to your needs

Public webinars won’t ideally fit busy executives either. Everyone’s starting level and interests differ. Tailored Webinars by A-CX are custom sessions to specific organizational needs, ensuring that the learning is directly applicable. In some organizations, people are comfortable learning together. Other teams or people prefer to learn and prepare in smaller groups or even individually. We can cater to all these styles or tailor one for you and your team.

Benefit: Tailored learning ensures leaders can focus on what’s directly relevant to their industry and business model, leading to quicker and more effective AI implementation.

Move from words
to actions with AI.
Start by taking
our AI assessment.

Tip 5: Assess the state of your AI

Knowing AI is different from implementing it. Secondly, implementing AI is only a subset of building and launching a successful product or service (although AI can make the difference between a good and transformative product.) So, how do I move from education to action? Keep reading; you’re on the right track.

At A-CX, we’ve built an AI assessment, helping organizations understand where they are, where they want to be, and what’s required to get there. It has three core elements: your current state of AI readiness, your target state, and your capability to drive the transformation. We map those three elements and help you fill in the blanks to harness AI for your needs. Together, we’ll identify starter AI projects to help you take that first concrete step and realize AI’s tangible benefits, i.e., a meaningful ROI. The assessment is a fast, two-week sprint that provides insight and helps your team move from words to actions. 

Benefit: By translating AI knowledge into actionable steps, leaders can expedite the realization of ROI from AI projects and foster a proactive AI culture within the organization.

Tip 6: Make your next AI project happen

Most good ideas don’t make the transition from PowerPoint to prototype. A-CX’s method for transition from concept to prototype is low-fidelity prototyping: It is about bringing concepts to life with fast prototyping and constant validation. It helps visualize how AI can address specific challenges, turning vague plans into concrete solutions. We stress the Importance of finding AI projects that deliver benefits, whether making something faster, better, or cheaper.

The early steps of AI are as much culture-building as they are technical exploration. Your organization must learn to do AI and to do AI for the right reasons. Technology is not a reason; the benefits it delivers are. We must balance AI advancements with organizational realities: Your more conservative colleagues may be ready to embrace AI. But they probably expect everybody to respect the legacy built over years or decades.

Your organization may be proud to disrupt and comfortable with conflict. Your organization may be wary of change and risk-averse. Do you struggle to convince your colleagues of AI? Do your colleagues possibly feel their processes, business ownership, and decision-making power are at risk? 31% of AI projects failed because of “results that were too disruptive to current business processes,” according to IDC. We’ll help you formulate actionable business problems you want to address and are addressable with AI. We’ll make sure to make AI approachable for your whole team.

We encourage you to seek simple AI-enhanced solutions that instill a culture of team efficiency: Instead of multi-month endeavors, start with quick wins. Use AI to solve everyday challenges or boost efficiency, demonstrating its potential.

Benefit: Initiating AI projects with a hands-on approach provides tangible outcomes and inspires and motivates the team by showcasing the real-world impact of AI solutions.

What do you think? Please get in touch with us and leave your thoughts.