Three Strategies to Prepare Your Workforce for the Accelerating Impact of AI

Kirsty Roth, the Chief Operations and Technology Officer at business information services specialist Thomson Reuters, believes that the full impact of AI on professional responsibilities is yet to be felt. According to Thomson Reuters' Future of Professionals Survey, which polled 2,275 professionals and C-level executives from over 50 countries, 80% of respondents anticipate that AI will have a significant or transformational impact on their work over the next five years, with almost 40% expecting to see these changes within the year. Roth notes that AI adoption rates are accelerating more rapidly than previous digital transformation waves, such as e-commerce and cloud computing. Over 55% of professionals have already experienced significant changes in their work due to AI, or expect major shifts soon. However, this is just the beginning, and both leaders and employees need to be prepared for further disruption. To avoid getting left behind, Roth recommends focusing on three key areas: Step 1: Make AI Accessible Business leaders must ensure their staff can access the best AI tools appropriate for their roles. Thomson Reuters' research shows that nearly half (46%) of organizations have invested in new AI technologies in the past year, and 30% of professionals regularly use AI for their work. Companies that fail to explore the right tools for specific roles risk missing out on the benefits AI can offer. "Ensure everyone in your company has access to AI and is using it," Roth advises. She adds that professionals not integrating AI may struggle to keep up, emphasizing the need for continuous learning and adaptation. Step 2: Share Best Practices More than half (53%) of survey respondents report their organizations are already seeing benefits from AI, but 30% feel the adoption process is moving too slowly. Roth stresses that realizing AI's potential requires a collaborative effort among leaders, professionals, and support staff. "Find a good way to share best practices," she says. Creative solutions and innovative uses of AI often emerge from various departments, but these ideas must be disseminated throughout the organization. Failure to share best practices can limit the broader impact of AI initiatives. Step 3: Talk to Your Peers Roth encourages business leaders and professionals to communicate with industry peers about AI strategies. The survey indicates that organizations with visible AI strategies are almost four times more likely to benefit from AI compared to those without significant adoption plans. By discussing AI implementations and successes with others, leaders can gain valuable insights. "I talk to my peers all the time in different types of companies as to what they’re doing and what’s working for them," Roth says. This peer communication is crucial for identifying effective use cases and gaining leadership support to drive AI transformation. Tracking and Tracing the Benefits of AI While survey respondents predict AI will save them five hours weekly, equivalent to about 240 hours annually and an average value of $19,000 per professional, proving these benefits can be challenging. Many companies struggle to accurately gauge where people spend their workdays and how AI can optimize this time. "What we’re discovering is that if you ask people, they aren’t very good at guessing how AI saves them time," Roth explains. Roth suggests that effective tracking and measurement of AI tool usage are essential. Companies should move from high-level questions about usage to more specific ones that provide deeper insights. For instance, asking whether AI tools are used daily and for how long can offer a clearer picture of their impact. Example from Thomson Reuters At Thomson Reuters, AI has significantly reduced the time engineers spend on routine tasks like coding and testing. This has freed up time for higher-value activities, such as ideation and customer-focused innovation. "What we’re starting to see with our best engineers is that some of the simple things, like coding and testing, are being reduced significantly," Roth says. "Therefore, they’ve got more time to think about, 'OK, what’s next? What do I want to build after this? And what does my customer want me to put in the product that’s coming next?' Shifting their time allocation like that is a big benefit." Industry Insights and Company Profile Thomson Reuters is a global leader in business information services, leveraging AI to enhance productivity and innovation. The company's survey highlights the growing consensus among business leaders that AI will fundamentally transform professional roles in the coming years. Roth’s advice underscores the importance of proactive and strategic AI adoption, emphasizing that businesses must ensure accessibility, share best practices, and engage in peer discussions to fully capitalize on AI’s potential. By taking these steps, organizations can not only adapt to the AI-driven landscape but also gain a competitive edge, ensuring they remain relevant and productive in an increasingly automated world.