The Discovery One crew had HAL 9000. Luke Skywalker had R2-D2 and C-3PO. Today, we’re surrounded by similar non-human intelligence—from Alexa to Siri—and with the increased use of language processors like ChatGPT, we’re getting closer to that cinematic future.

While many have raised concerns about the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, AI should be used less as a competitor and more as a teammate. Doing so requires a simple shift in language—moving from “artificial” to “augmented.”

“The concept of augmentation says that you have a person’s understanding or intellect,” says LaVerne Council. “They know how to do things. It’s not artificial. It helps you think things through quicker, it’s helping you take what you already know and make it better or give you a new perspective.”

Treating AI like a team member, like an extra hand to help carry grocery bags, is beneficial for daily tasks, but what about jobs? In this case, it’s important to consider the natural progression of technology and how it historically saves time and allows people to pursue new skills or career paths.

For those looking to embrace AI in the workplace, four of Emerald One’s Elements of Brilliance—leadership, culture awareness, trust, and value maximization—are key to implementing AI platforms and practices in daily work. In terms of leadership, AI implementation requires ethical considerations for both leadership and users. Leaders should empathize with employees’ concerns about job displacement but also encourage them to grow in areas and ways they may not have previously had time for.

Adopting AI also requires a significant cultural shift, particularly if organizations are averse to change.

“If their culture is one where employees may feel expendable or feel that their points of view aren’t valued, they won’t trust where the organization is going with AI,” Council shares. “The sooner you share that you’re making a switch or adopting a new technology, the more room you have to work with your employees on figuring out their next step. What have they always talked about doing but didn’t have time to do? How can they help make this organization bigger and better? Asking these questions will change the environment, build trust, and give employees space to leverage their intelligence and insights.”

That trust also extends to clients.

“You have to be very candid with your clients,” says Council. “They have a right to know when you’re using augmented capabilities and when you’re not on something that’s an outcome for them. When AI’s involved, everyone should have full disclosure of how something’s being used, when it’s being used, how much of it is being used, and what’s happening to artifacts that are created because of it.”

To maximize AI’s value, Council recommends full engagement, vigilance, and less frivolity.

“AI itself is not cheap—everyone talks like it’s free. It costs data center power. It costs environmental power. It shouldn’t be used frivolously, and it requires us all to stay vigilant, learning, and engaged. It requires empathy for the person whose job might be changing. AI has been around for a long time. It’s just that the chip allows us to run in a different way than we did before.”

In the federal space, technology trumps policy, and policy is well behind. Though policy guardrails are necessary to ensure we leverage AI to its full potential on behalf of the public, federal leaders are responsible for engaging with it and understanding their role in deciding which elements should be implemented.

“I tend to believe in leveraging AI for the betterment of mankind, not just for the mundane, but for all people who dedicate their lives to finding answers and solutions to difficult things,” Council says. “We have power we didn’t have before, but it’s not new. It requires us to be realistic and be good ambassadors of its use.”

As we continue to embrace augmented intelligence, let’s remember that it’s not just about doing more faster—it’s about finding the balance between technology and human ingenuity to create a more inclusive, innovative future.

About Emerald One

Emerald One, LLC is a 100% woman-owned small business focused on closing the gap between strategy and execution and specializes in digital transformation, resource value maximization, new asset alignment, and executive coaching and communication.

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