In this episode, Anastassia engages with the Berlin-based economist Silvio Gerlach to explore the realities of AI implementation in businesses.

Silvio Gerlach is a German economist and experienced academic coach who has spent over two decades guiding research projects and mentoring students in economics, political science, and business administration. He is the founder of Studeo Coaching, where he serves as a thesis and dissertation coach, authoring multiple guides for scientific writing and academic research. Gerlach studied economics and political science at the University of Marburg and deepened his expertise in international economics during study terms in Argentina and Russia. His dedication to supporting academic achievement has made him a respected figure in German academic circles.

Anastassia and Silvio discuss the significant gap between the expectations set by studies and the actual outcomes experienced by companies, particularly smaller and mid-sized businesses. Silvio emphasizes the importance of a workflow-centric approach to AI adoption, building trust among employees, and understanding the human aspects of integrating AI technologies. The conversation also touches on the concept of the 'shadow economy' where employees use AI tools independently, and the need for practical design in AI initiatives to ensure success.

Takeaways:

95% of AI initiatives fail due to poor implementation.

Focus on workflows instead of use cases for AI.

Executive leaders must trust employees to improve processes with AI, thereby starting to transform their companies for better competitiveness.

AI adoption must address employee job security concerns.

Improving information and data supply is crucial for AI implementation success.

AI is a tool, not a pet to be adopted.

Small contributions from AI can lead to significant outcomes.

Engagement from employees on all levels is essential for AI integration.

AI should be integrated as a last step in the process, when it is clear what must be changed, and what actions will be taken to further facilitate and maintain change.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to AI Literacy and Guest Introduction

03:06 The Discrepancy Between AI Expectations and Reality

05:58 Understanding AI Implementation Challenges

08:51 The Importance of Workflow in AI Adoption

12:00 Building Trust and Overcoming Resistance to AI

14:57 The Shadow Economy and AI Utilization

17:59 Designing Effective AI Initiatives

20:57 AI as a Transformational Tool for Businesses

In the last week of September, we published Silvio's blog on the AI Edutainment website www.aiedutainment.ai, and the PDF of his monumental paper on measuring the impact of AI initiatives in businesses.

Links to further AI Literacy content:

Hyperlinks

Instagram: @romyandroby

Leadership Series: “Leading Through Disruption”

Website: AI Edutainment