What to Look For in an AI Training Provider

If you are in a leadership role today, chances are that your organization is already working to harness artificial intelligence for higher productivity, efficiency, and quality. But how do companies move from recognizing the promise that AI holds to actually creating a more productive, AI-empowered workforce? From my experience in working with large organizations on their AI training needs, the key factor in successful AI adoption is not whether staff are using AI, but rather how they are using it. One MIT study found that while GenAI usage can improve a worker's performance by up to 40 percent, it can actually reduce performance when used to tackle a task beyond AI's capabilities. Organizations therefore need an AI workplace strategy that includes high-quality, business-relevant AI training. But there are two major challenges in finding this. First, current AI training tends to be divided into either very technical courses in areas like machine learning or courses on AI basics, with little in between. Few courses are targeted at what is important to most companies--namely, training employees to apply AI tools within their own particular roles. This means a new industry-centric approach to AI training is needed, with providers to match. Second, as demand for AI training has grown, the number of courses on the market has also multiplied--leaving many leaders unsure about which training partners can add value. Not just any training will do: Companies must truly understand their business needs and find AI training solutions that precisely meet them. So how can leaders identify AI training partners that will deliver? Below, I share some features that will help you find the right learning provider for your business. 1. Specialized Courses by Discipline or Role Beyond general training programs that help workers learn the ropes of popular AI tools, quality providers will also offer more specialized courses such as AI for cybersecurity, AI for customer service, and prompt engineering. 2. Quality Assurance Training providers need to ensure that human oversight and quality assurance are embedded into their course creation processes. This is essential to avoid the problem of AI inaccuracy or hallucinations, especially when AI is used to create learning content or where AI-powered virtual tutors are being utilized. 3. Personalized Learning One of the most exciting possibilities of AI is its potential to personalize learning for students. For example, my company, Chegg Skills, has developed a learning companion that is trained within the curriculum students follow and hence more closely tailored to what they need to learn. It will be able to adapt content to the user's learning style, provide personalized recommendations based on individual progress, and tailor instruction to the educational background and experience of each learner. 4. Tailored Solutions for Your Organization Your business has unique needs that specialized training providers will be able to understand. They can discuss your company's skills goals and challenges with you, and develop bespoke programs accordingly. They can also offer course recommendations, adjust the parameters of an existing course to suit you, or include organization-specific content. 5. Learning Methodologies It's important to look for methodologies grounded in best practice and offer a mix of approaches such as interactive assessment, simulations, real-world case studies, hands-on exercises, and human support. Does the platform incorporate active learning techniques, encourage problem-solving, and test knowledge with practical scenarios? 6. Regular Updates At the current pace of AI development, AI training programs created today could be obsolete within six months or even sooner--unless providers enact frequent, documented updates as new releases advance. 7. Track Record and Analytics While content can now be generated overnight, great learning outcomes are more elusive. It's important to find a learning provider with a solid track record on learner outcomes and deep expertise in supporting working adult learners. In particular, providers must ensure quality by collecting data on outcomes for their AI training programs and adjusting their content to improve results accordingly. What are the benefits? Quality AI training offers organizations a way to ensure that AI tools are utilized responsibly and in accord with best practices and business objectives. Through training, employers will have an opportunity to reduce the stigma around AI use and boost collaboration, which in turn generates more creative use of AI tools as employee expertise grows. As Bill Gates commented on AI: "Businesses will distinguish themselves by how well they use it." As AI verticalizes for different sectors, companies need training that elevates their learning and development strategy, maximizes business outcomes, and helps them grasp tomorrow's opportunities. By investing in training today, organizations are building solid workforce AI experience and adapting to change before it occurs--whatever the future may bring. EXPERT OPINION BY MEGAN O'CONNOR, HEAD OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, CHEGG @MEGANMOCONNOR