LinkedIn: ‘There’s still much more to expect from AI’

Since its emergence, AI has been on a long journey. But of course, it’s Gen AI that has generated the most noise over the past few years. 

Although the possibilities of Gen AI can seem endless, this technology can be difficult for both employees and employers to navigate, especially when it comes to upskilling and reskilling. 

UNLEASH sat down for an exclusive conversation with Rebecca Schnauffer, Global Head of Strategic Clients, Talent Solutions at LinkedIn to gain an inside track on how an industry expert views this tool, as well as how she thinks it will shape the future.

“AI is embedded into so much of what we do,” begins Schnauffer, who boasts extensive experience in the tech sector, after serving almost six years with LinkedIn and two decades with IBM.

“It has been used in so many different ways over the past 15 years, but there’s still much more to expect from AI. It has enabled us to make huge strides in many different sectors, such as medicine, tech, and finance, to name just a few.

“What’s really interesting, is how much AI has accelerated, especially over the past 12 months and how it will continue to do so. In fact, it’s become so consumed that everybody knows about it now.

“Whether you’re looking at how kids are using ChatGPT to help them write an English essay, right the way through to business professionals and how they’re embedding it into their everyday tools and flow of work.”

Schnauffer continues to explain that because of mass adoption, everyone wants to really understand its potential. And, the more businesses are adopting AI, the more people are beginning to appreciate the role that it plays in their day-to-day roles.

Research from LinkedIn’s Future of Work report supports this, highlighting that 80% of employees are curious to find out more about Gen AI.

Contrary to this however, the report also shows that less than half of employers are heavily investing in AI skills for their employees.

With a clear mismatch, Schnauffer explains that both employers and employees need to get on the same page.

“Businesses need to realize they have a number of people eager to adopt these new technologies, so they need to consider how they can help individuals upskill,” Schnauffer adds.

“From an HR perspective, it’s about getting that seat at the table and showing businesses that these are skills desired today, but needed for tomorrow.”

Promoting AI literacy and the future impact of Gen AI

So, now it’s clear that employees want to know more about AI – how can businesses ensure that they’re promoting AI literacy? 

One way is through encouraging individuals to take up short courses to familiarize themselves with AI and how it works. 

“I’ve spent the last 12 months digging into a bunch of LinkedIn learning courses just to get a grounding in what AI does,” Schnauffer explains.

“From there, I researched what Gen AI means to the world today, to how I can then utilize this, for example by experimenting with skills like prompt engineering.”

Recognizing that these sessions are small steps for employees to take, LinkedIn offers more than 250 free courses within the field of AI. Not only do these encourage individuals to start their learning journey, but it also opens up the possibilities of what AI can offer.

Because of this, Schnauffer explains that there needs to be an entry point for employees and businesses, which she believes needs to come directly from C-suite leaders.

“Learning and adopting AI needs to be driven from the top down,” she says. “It’s really about the whole organization leaning in and actively trying to change the narrative to drive the importance of investing time in learning and skills development.”

But Schnauffer continues to state that there’s still a very long way to go: “It’s not about having all the answers,” she says. “It’s about taking small steps to learn and fully understand the technology, and to truly grasp how it can be embedded within solutions today.

“I’d love to know how Gen AI will evolve in the future. But I only know one thing for sure – it will continue to accelerate. It will therefore change the landscape of the skills needed, which will cause companies to consider how to invest their money to continue their development.”

To do so, businesses need to focus on creating internal mobility, to ensure their workforce is strengthened with the desirable skills. Otherwise, Schnauffer explains that they’ll be chasing these skills from a very small external subset, which will make it hard for recruiters to find candidates with the exact skills and experience.  

What’s more, Schnauffer highlights that she’s particularly interested in the ways in which AI can help advance certain skills, such as communication, teamwork and emotional intelligence, as well as relieving disparities in the workplace.

She concludes: “AI will continue to shape the world of work by making it a better place for those with neurodiversities, by helping to close the gender gap, and reducing barriers to entry. I’m excited to see what else it will help us achieve.”