While companies used to view AI primarily as a technical issue, they now need to approach it as an organizational challenge. That's the perspective of Annelies De Corte and Tania Pittoors from 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 in Belgium.
Claiming that artificial intelligence will (radically) change businesses is no revelation. What鈥檚 new is how quickly organizations are shifting their approach to AI. 鈥淔ive to ten years ago, AI was still a purely technical issue, mainly entrusted to data scientists. However, recent technological advancements have turned it into an organizational challenge, with new roles, functions, and processes emerging. The focus has expanded to include risk and change management, as AI will, in one way or another, impact every employee in the organization鈥�, says Annelies De Corte, Director at 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 in Belgium and an expert in data and AI strategy.
AI has become an organization-wide challenge that requires a multidisciplinary approach. Tania Pittoors, Head of People & Change at 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 in Belgium, explains: 鈥淐reating a culture that embraces AI is essential. Managers play a key role here鈥攖hey need to encourage their teams to experiment and build trust. Management should acknowledge concerns and communicate openly. Many organizations understand they need to work with AI but often struggle to explain why. This may seem like a minor detail, but it鈥檚 crucial to convincing others within the organization to embrace the change鈥�.
AI ambassadors
Skills are just as crucial as culture, though they鈥檙e quickly overtaken by new technological developments. Pittoors notes: 鈥淚n the past, you could rely on a particular skill for a while, but now continuous learning is essential. The World Economic Forum鈥檚 report on the jobs of tomorrow highlights the importance of creative thinking, tech fluency, and curiosity鈥�.
鈥淭o help integrate AI internally, 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 launched a network of AI ambassadors鈥攃olleagues from various departments trained in AI who share their knowledge within their teams and identify new use cases鈥�, explains De Corte. 鈥淏eing closer to their teams, these ambassadors help bring abstract concepts to life鈥�.
Zero in on the core
Our approach to change management has evolved, as AI is proving more disruptive than past innovations. We focus on understanding fears and resistance to guide companies through the five phases of change management鈥�, says Pittoors. 鈥淭his is the first time technology has had such a sweeping impact on knowledge workers, which naturally creates resistance. It rarely replaces entire roles but often reshapes specific tasks. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 essential to review your organizational structure and HR policies鈥�.
De Corte emphasizes that organizations must have the confidence to integrate AI into their core processes. 鈥淎 lot of companies begin by focusing on support functions such as HR or finance, but you need to take a hard look at the core of your business. This requires the right kind of courage, as it often comes with higher risks鈥�.
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