Learn how critical thinking enhances innovation, minimizes risk, and taps the full potential of your employees and AI technology.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) saves time and effort by analyzing large data sets and automating rote tasks. As the technology evolves, it promises to create new opportunities for employees to innovate and collaborate.
But the promise of AI can also create challenges in human problem-solving and distinguishing fact from fiction.
According to Forbes magazine, the widespread adoption of AI makes critical thinking skills even more crucial to individual and organizational success.
The importance of critical thinking
The Future for Work Institute (FFWI) describes critical thinking as the ability to:
- Reason, infer and predict
- Understand broad ideas
- Discern contradictions
- Reach logical conclusions
- Make sound judgments
Critical thinking can maximize AI’s abilities while reducing its risks. It helps employees enhance AI inputs, understand its outputs and avoid errors in judgment.
The human resources association SHRM notes the importance of critical thinking in limiting the consequences of improper usage. For example, attorneys have written motions and briefs based on inaccurate AI output, citing cases that weren’t real. New York City offered an AI chatbot to help small businesses, but the technology provided incorrect information.
Training employees to think critically about AI usage and outputs can help them and your organization avoid similar errors.
AI stands out with its ability to collect and produce data. But as FFWI reports, it’s becoming more challenging to differentiate facts from falsehoods. Generative AI can “hallucinate,” which means it sometimes makes up answers. It’s critical to train employees to question and verify AI-generated responses. Individuals must learn to check AI data for accuracy, bias and ethics.
Even when AI does not create incorrect answers, there’s a risk of the technology citing the same sources and ideas until it becomes an echo chamber. Recycling the same ideas instead of innovating new ones is known as a “filter bubble.” Without critical thinking, this process can stifle innovation and creativity. SHRM notes the importance of teaching employees about prompt engineering, which refers to the questions AI responds to. Effective prompt engineering can improve accuracy, reduce bias and increase productivity.
The power of training your workforce
According to Forbes, critical thinking allows employees to understand nuance, context, background and broader implications. It can enable individuals to adapt AI’s power to new business solutions and changing needs.
You also want employees to bring novel ideas to your business challenges. Your workforce understands your company values and ethics. Empower them to use emotional intelligence to craft and edit AI information.
SHRM recommends training employees to:
- Observe
- Analyze
- Infer
- Communicate
- Problem-solve
Observation skills include focusing and concentrating, anticipating challenges, and seeking alternative solutions.
Analysis includes gathering, interpreting and adapting information to your business needs.
Inference means reaching sound conclusions based on AI data and personal experience.
Communication requires employees to understand the data. They can provide others with compelling, easy-to-understand communication in written and verbal forms.
Problem-solving means understanding various challenges and opportunities. It involves seeking diverse viewpoints and predicting the best courses of action now and in the future.
With these skills, employees can see the big picture and decide based on the best available information. Individuals and organizations operate in a fast-paced world of immediate demands. Critical thinking increases the odds that employees won’t rush to judgment or trade long-term success for temporary, short-term gains.
How to adapt
Critical thinking training exists in various forms and mediums. Training programs include college classes, online courses and certificates, and on-site workshops.
According to the software company Asana, critical thinking training can teach your employees to:
- Identify problems
- Challenge assumptions
- Create and test hypotheses
- Analyze and interpret data
- Identify credibility and bias
- Communicate ideas
SHRM reports that AI itself can offer tools to educate employees. It can tailor lessons to individuals, roles and industries. Working directly with AI can provide real-time critical thinking opportunities and lessons as the technology evolves.
FFWI suggests providing employees with ongoing education. AI will continue to advance rapidly. Continuous training can help employees keep up. Encourage them to experiment with AI as it evolves and becomes more prevalent in their work and personal lives.
By promoting critical thinking, your employees will be able to identify business risks and opportunities more quickly. They’ll also become more nimble, resilient, creative and adaptable.
Explore training opportunities
As generative AI continues to change how employees live and work, preparing them with critical thinking skills can pay immediate and long-lasting dividends.
For more information, talk to your benefits adviser. They can help you explore training options related to AI and critical thinking.
