Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a key element in every workplace. More than a tool, AI is a colleague, helping us work more efficiently and providing better access to data. While AI is not being built and implemented to replace humans, some people may find their roles greatly altered by its use. While AI itself will not replace an employee, a person who cannot work with AI may find themselves replaced by a person who can. Ensuring you understand how to use AI in your daily work is critical to ongoing career growth.
Understanding AI does not mean having to become a programmer, a software engineer, or a data scientist, and a deep dive into its technical workings is not necessary. What will help is a hands-on understanding of how to utilize AI for tasks, as well as how to interpret and use the data AI generates.
While organizations should be providing training as they introduce AI, employees need to take initiative and self-educate to stay ahead of the curve and remain competitive in the workforce. Consider these tips:
- Learn the basics - Read introductory books or take a basic online course to familiarize yourself with the language of AI. Learn the differences between machine learning, AI (in general), generative AI, and automation. Make sure you understand the role of natural language processing (NLP) in powering AI solutions. With this knowledge of the terms, you'll be more able to engage in conversations and follow discussions involving AI tools. Free and low-cost courses are plentiful and are available from online learning providers like Coursera, as well as from technology vendors including Microsoft and Google.
- Subscribe for updates - Sign up for AI newsletters and add AI accounts to your social media feeds. Choose sources that are aligned with an educational institution or with a trusted publishing company. Even simply scanning headlines daily will increase your awareness of policies and new developments related to AI.
- Experiment with tools - Get your hands "dirty" and dive in with the many free tools available. Start utilizing ChatGPT when traditional search engines are not providing the answer you need or use the tool to get a push out of writer's block. Utilize the outputs not as a finished product but as a jumping-off point. Once you've broken through and written something, use Grammarly to review your writing for grammatical errors and clarity. Available as part of Microsoft 365, Microsoft Copilot is closely ingrained with workplace tools and can help you find information in Teams chats or turn a Word document into a PowerPoint.
- Attend AI events - Whether online or in person, events can expose you to many different perspectives on and experiences with AI. Look for a mix of events that provide hands-on demos, technical discussions, panel talks on business applications, and policy debates in order to build a well-rounded understanding of AI.
Fortunately, there is a large array of AI events and resources. Jump start your AI education with some of these:
- The ABCs of Agentic AI (March 25, 2025; webcast) - Agentic AI represents the next step in AI innovation. This webcast will explore what agentic AI is and how it is different from other forms of artificial intelligence. It will present compelling public-sector use cases for agentic AI.
- SNG Live: AI & Automation (March 27, 2025; Washington, D.C.) - This event gathers federal IT decision-makers leading the rollout of artificial intelligence and automation across the government. They will discuss the state of the adoption of these technologies in the federal government, the challenges they face, and where they see these technologies having the biggest impact.
- AI-Powered Automation that Serves Your Mission for Efficient Government (April 8, 2025; webcast) - Learn how AI-powered automation can be the solution to enhancing efficiency--without requiring a complete overhaul--and ensuring that every technology investment delivers real, measurable value.
- Tech Insights Live: Winning Use Cases for AI Success (April 15, 2025; webcast) - Discover how 2025 is redefining both agentic AI and enterprise AI. Explore how agentic AI tools may pave the way for landmark applications benefitting enterprise workflows.
- AITalks (April 24, 2025; Washington, D.C.) - Top government leaders, tech innovators, and industry experts will converge to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in the public-sector space. Hear about cutting-edge AI applications revolutionizing government operations.
- How to Responsibly and Effectively Use Artificial Intelligence in Government (white paper) - The overarching goal of improving citizen experience is a shift to seeing citizens as customers and implementing private sector-type practices in responding to requests and needs. While there may not be an alternative for citizen customers to choose when it comes to government services, agencies must adopt the competitive mindset of the private sector in how they deliver services in order to build trust in government.
- Work, Workforce, Workers: Reinvented in the Age of Generative AI (white paper) - The impact and importance of what people do with generative artificial intelligence (AI) today and tomorrow cannot be understated. In this age, gen AI is influencing more than just productivity; it's impacting processes across the value chain, changing the work itself.
- Harnessing Next-Generation AI Solutions for Enhanced Federal Security Operations (white paper) - Federal experts came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities of using generative AI to enhance Federal security. Panelists explored the multifaceted impacts of AI within cybersecurity, encompassing economic shifts, policy evolution, tech vulnerabilities, and the potential for developing global AI standards.
Look for more ways to future-proof your career and boost your job performance with GovEvents and GovWhitePapers.
