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Getting W.I.S.E. A.T. A.I.: A Comprehensive Approach to Artificial Intelligence in L&D

Blog Post

By Megan Torrance

Getting W.I.S.E. A.T. A.I.: A Comprehensive Approach to Artificial Intelligence in L&D

Three coworkers working together on a computer
Getting W.I.S.E. A.T. A.I.: A Comprehensive Approach to Artificial Intelligence in L&D

Blog Post

By Megan Torrance
Three coworkers working together on a computer

Getting W.I.S.E. A.T. A.I.: A Comprehensive Approach to Artificial Intelligence in L&D

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In L&D, we’re getting a new set of tools – and we’re helping employees adapt to these new tools. There’s a lot going on and a lot to get right. In fact, when we talk to learning executives about what keeps them up at night, they tell us that they’re worried they don’t have the right tools, they don’t have the right policies in place, and they don’t have the AI literacy throughout their teams to ensure that their people aren’t going to do something horrible with it. There are a lot of reasons why the AI adoption process is complex, and “people” is one of them.

While we’re still at a stage in which many L&D practitioners are using AI tools to speed up existing tasks, understanding what a good use of AI is versus a poor use can be somewhat limited within the organization. What’s more, without AI governance frameworks, it’s incredibly easy to misuse AI. On the other hand, if everyone is afraid of it, they are less likely to use it and use it well.

The W.I.S.E. A.T. A.I. framework offers a holistic approach to leveraging analytical and generative AI in your organization by focusing on Wisdom, Inclusivity, Security, Equity, Accountability, and Transparency. It aims to help users harness AI’s strengths and ensure AI is applied in areas where it is capable of providing real value while avoiding it in situations where it is likely to lead to poor quality and potentially negative outcomes. Here’s how you can leverage this framework to maximize AI’s potential while maintaining ethical and practical standards.

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Wisdom

Is this a wise application of AI, and have I chosen the right tool?

Wisdom in application means ensuring AI is used in situations where it can truly add value, such as automating repetitive tasks or providing quick, data-driven insights. It also means understanding the limitations and uncertainties associated with AI and having a realistic understanding of what these technologies cannot do, like make decisions, provide reliable facts or real-time information, or give financial or legal advice. It’s crucial to regularly update and refine AI strategies based on evolving technologies, balancing AI’s capabilities (and weaknesses) with human intelligence to avoid over-reliance. Continuous performance evaluation helps in fine-tuning AI’s role, making it a strategic asset rather than just a tool.

Inclusivity

How am I evaluating the inclusivity of this AI output?

This involves using diverse data sources to train AI models, which ensures that outputs are representative and unbiased. This principle also includes making AI tools accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, and engaging a wide range of community stakeholders in AI development processes. This broad involvement helps in identifying and mitigating potential biases and promotes fairness and inclusivity.

Security

What necessary precautions have I taken to protect sensitive data?

When it comes to AI, security includes implementing robust measures to safeguard data privacy. Data privacy and security are considered at both the user level and the organizational proprietary knowledge level. It’s also vital to comply with legal and regulatory standards and to create and maintain emergency response strategies for potential security breaches.

Equity

How is this output equitably compensating contributors and providing fair representation?

Equity focuses on ensuring that AI technologies respect and promote human dignity and rights. This involves fair compensation for contributors, effective management of user and content-provider consent, and providing equal opportunities for participation in AI projects. This element of the framework also helps emphasize the importance of representing underrepresented groups in AI processes and outputs, fostering a more inclusive and equitable technological landscape.

Accountability

How am I holding myself accountable for using AI responsibly and taking ownership of the outcomes?

Accountability within the W.I.S.E. A.T. A.I. framework means assigning clear responsibilities for AI development and usage. It also involves ensuring that AI-supported decisions are auditable and traceable, and it involves maintaining high standards through rigorous quality assurance and monitoring.

Transparency

How am I communicating transparently about my use of AI?

Transparency involves being clear about when AI is being used as well as making AI processes explainable, maintaining open communication with users and stakeholders, and keeping detailed documentation of AI models and data sources.

AI

How am I continuing to learn about best practices and guidelines for AI usage?

The “A.T. A.I.” aspect of the framework emphasizes the importance of keeping AI technologies up-to-date and integrating them into broader business strategies. It promotes a collaborative ecosystem that encourages innovation and ethical practices by staying abreast of best practices in the swiftly evolving AI industry. This continuous learning and adaptation ensure that AI remains a dynamic and valuable part of your organization’s toolkit.

When Do I Use W.I.S.E. A.T. A.I.?

You can use the W.I.S.E. A.T. A.I. framework whether you are a software engineer designing new features, a business leader who is setting strategy for the organization, on a project team to improve processes using AI supports, or, like most of us, someone using these tools to be more productive, creative, and faster in our work.

If you integrate the framework into your project workflow, consider revisiting it during retrospectives or progress milestones to keep it at the forefront of the team’s thinking. This goes a long way toward making smart and safe use of AI more than just lip service.

Finally, as you roll out new tools, features, or processes, you can then refer to the W.I.S.E. A.T. A.I. framework in your communications so that affected employees, end users, and customers have insight into your thought process. This can not only build credibility for your team’s work but also help anyone listening think about how these elements of responsible use of AI fit within their own work.

Author
Megan Torrance smiling
Megan Torrance

Megan Torrance is CEO and founder of TorranceLearning, connecting learning strategy to design, development, data, and, ultimately, performance. Megan has over 25 years of experience in learning design, deployment, and consulting. Megan and the TorranceLearning team are passionate about sharing what works, so they devote considerable time to teaching and sharing about Agile project management for learning design, racial equity, and xAPI & learning analytics.

Megan is the author of Agile for Instructional Designers, Data & Analytics for Instructional Designers, and the W.I.S.E. A.T. A.I. framework. She is also a Facilitator with eCornell’s Women’s Executive Leadership certificate and courses in virtual teaming, team leadership, and communication, and an adjunct in instructional design at Penn State University.

Connect with Megan on LinkedIn and learn more at www.torrancelearning.com

Molly Merkel
Molly Merkel

Molly Merkel is an Instructional Designer at TorranceLearning, specializing in creating engaging elearning experiences. She also leads the editorial efforts, including the development and management of the company’s editorial style guide to ensure clarity and consistency across deliverables and other written content. Molly has played a role in the creation of much of TorranceLearning’s AI-related content, contributing both as an editor and writer to a wide range of projects.

In addition to her instructional design and editorial work, Molly leads the company book club, creating an opportunity for TorranceLearning to foster a culture of continuous learning and intellectual engagement, promote psychological safety on the team, and encourage discussions that advance the company’s strategic goals.

Connect with Molly on LinkedIn.

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