Across industries, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how companies operate, compete, and innovate. Whether you’re in healthcare, finance, marketing, manufacturing, or retail, AI has become a critical tool for staying ahead.
“I have a strong belief that the future of business is going to be AI-powered,” says Harvard Business School Professor Karim Lakhani in the online course AI Essentials for Business, which he co-teaches along with AI for Leaders. “There’s not one organization, one role that will not be touched by AI tools.”
If you’re ready to transition your organization into an AI-first business, it’s essential to have a clear training plan for employees. Below is a closer look at what AI training means in a business context, why it’s a critical component of any AI strategy, and how it can drive competitive advantage.
What is AI Training?
The term AI training can mean different things, depending on the context.
Regarding AI systems, AI training refers to teaching an algorithm to perform a specific task by exposing it to data and feedback until its performance improves. In a business context, AI training refers to how organizations equip employees to use AI-based tools and solutions effectively. This can take several forms, including:
- AI fluency training: Teaching employees AI fundamentals, including capabilities, best practices, and organizational governance considerations, such as ethics, security, and privacy
- Role-based AI skills training: Enabling employees to apply AI tools to role-specific tasks and responsibilities
- AI upskilling: Preparing employees with AI skills they may need for future roles or responsibilities
The remainder of this article focuses on AI skills training in a business context.
Is AI Training Important in Your Industry?
As AI becomes a permanent fixture across industries, organizations need professionals who understand how to use it effectively. AI skills training equips employees with the knowledge to innovate, improve decision-making, and solve complex problems beyond the reach of traditional methods.
“Without technical fluency, we risk missing the moments when systems can fail, generate unexpected outputs, or reinforce hidden biases,” says HBS Professor Iavor Bojinov in AI for Leaders, which he co-teaches alongside Lakhani. “Using generative AI responsibly—in our work, products, or organizations—means asking informed questions and recognizing both the power and pitfalls of this technology. Technical understanding isn’t just for engineers; it’s a critical part of using AI well.”
Industries already being transformed by AI include:
Virtually every industry is finding new and exciting ways of incorporating AI into its processes and workflows to boost efficiency and productivity, reduce costs, innovate, and compete more effectively. AI training supports these initiatives by removing one of the main barriers to AI adoption: an AI skills gap. This, in turn, makes it easier for you to scale your AI strategy beyond simple pilots or one-off use cases.
5 Ways AI Skills Training Can Help You Compete
1. Enhances Data-Driven Decision Making
AI training builds the analytical skills to interpret insights from machine learning models and other advanced tools—enabling more informed, strategic decision-making aligned with business goals.
The importance of data-backed strategy is clear in dentistry, where X-rays are used to diagnose cavities, tooth impactions, and bone loss. Some estimates suggest misdiagnosis rates can reach three percent, leading to unnecessary procedures, missed conditions, and reduced patient trust.
Recognizing that better data could reduce these errors, Florian Hillen, CEO and co-founder of VideaHealth, a software company featured in AI for Leaders, helped develop AI tools that analyze dental X-rays more effectively than human review alone.
“In a hectic day, a clinician can easily miss something,” Hillen says in AI for Leaders. “They have a small screen. They have 30 seconds. And they have to go through 18 different X-ray images to identify cavity, periodontal loss, and a bunch of other things.”
With more data and a refined development approach, VideaHealth accelerated innovation, moving from launching its first model in three years to deploying 30 new models in nine to 12 months. Today, more than 50,000 dental clinicians use the company’s AI-powered diagnostic tools to improve patient outcomes.
As data increasingly drives business strategy across industries, understanding AI-based analysis is essential to staying competitive and maximizing organizational impact.
2. Automates Routine Tasks
Through AI training, you can learn how to automate mundane and time-consuming processes, such as:
- Data entry
- Invoice processing
- Customer service responses
- Report generation
Coca-Cola, for example, leverages AI to automate data analysis tasks, such as tracking consumer preferences and generating product performance reports. This allows the company to quickly respond to market trends while freeing employees to focus on product innovations like alcoholic sodas and electrolyte water.
By automating routine tasks with AI, your organization can operate more efficiently, allowing your team to concentrate on higher-impact initiatives. Following Coca-Cola’s example, you can enhance your operational effectiveness and better position your business to meet future industry needs.
3. Improves Customer Experience
AI training can help you design and implement AI-driven customer service solutions that enhance user engagement, provide personalized experiences addressing customer needs, and improve retention.
Ant Group, an Alibaba affiliate, exemplifies this with the launch of MYbank, a digital banking service focused on providing financing solutions for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It uses AI to enable secure and efficient financial transactions.
MYbank can quickly process loan applications without human intervention using a sophisticated machine learning engine. This technology has enabled MYbank to provide financing services to over 53 SMEs in China, enhancing financial inclusion for businesses that traditionally struggle to access credit.
MYbank’s AI-driven approach plays a crucial role in supporting a diverse range of customers’ needs, making financial services more accessible on a large scale.
“We believe AI can play a really, really important role in making financial services more inclusive,” Dr. Alan Qi, Ant Group’s vice president and AI chief scientist, says in AI Essentials for Business. “Only because of the power of machine learning or AI, we can make the service more scalable, more inclusive.”
This data-driven approach allows Ant Group to continually innovate and optimize its services, ensuring the company meets its global customer base’s diverse needs.
4. Strengthens Risk Management
AI training not only covers how to implement these technologies but also how to address risk management strategies related to cybersecurity.
In AI Essentials for Business, HBS Professor Marco Iansiti, who co-teaches the course alongside Lakhani, warns business leaders of these data-related risks.
“It’s not surprising that, given the huge reliance of digital operating models on data, data breaches are becoming more and more of a challenge,” Iansiti says in AI Essentials for Business. “Its challenges are accelerating as the amount of personal information that is stored by leading companies continues to increase.”
Developing data analysis, anomaly detection, and real-time decision-making skills is essential for managing cybersecurity risks. These capabilities are vital in scenarios like those faced by the banking company J.P. Morgan Chase, where analyzing large datasets and identifying irregular patterns could enhance fraud detection and prevention.
In fact, J.P. Morgan Chase uses AI and machine learning to enhance its cybersecurity capabilities. By analyzing vast amounts of transaction data in real-time, the company can quickly detect anomalies—such as unusual transaction amounts or locations—that often indicate fraudulent activity.
This proactive use of AI in risk management not only safeguards the bank’s assets but also ensures its customers’ security and trust, maintaining the bank’s reputation in a highly competitive industry.
Understanding and applying AI in risk management is crucial for any organization aiming to protect its assets and maintain customer trust. Investing in AI training can equip your team with the tools and knowledge to detect and respond to potential threats more effectively.
Related: Listen to Jen Stave, launch director of Harvard’s Digital Data Design (D^3) Institute, discuss AI’s transformative impact across industries on The Parlor Room podcast.
5. Optimizes Supply Chain and Logistics
AI training can provide valuable insights into optimizing supply chain management and logistics. It can help you more efficiently forecast demand, manage inventory levels, and optimize delivery routes, leading to significant cost savings and improved operational efficiencies.
Retail giant Walmart utilizes AI and machine learning to enhance its supply chain efficiency by analyzing factors such as historical sales data, weather patterns, and local events to more accurately predict customer demand. This enables Walmart to optimize its inventory levels and ensure products are available when and where needed.
In addition, Walmart uses AI to optimize delivery routes, which can reduce fuel consumption and improve delivery times. This AI-powered approach to supply chain management allows Walmart to operate more efficiently, reduce costs, and maintain its competitive edge in the retail market.
By incorporating AI into your supply chain and logistics operations, you can achieve similar efficiencies and cost savings, positioning your business to outpace competitors.
Take Your Organization to the Next Level with AI
From enhancing decision-making and automating routine tasks to improving customer experience and strengthening risk management, AI provides the tools to innovate and excel in any industry.
To remain competitive, you and your employees must not only understand these technologies but also know how to implement them effectively. A robust AI training program builds understanding and enables real innovation through AI. HBS Online’s digital transformation and AI courses offer you the insights and skills to lead your organization through the complexities of AI adoption, ensuring you stay ahead of the curve and drive success.
If you’re ready to build AI fluency across your organization, explore AI Essentials for Business and AI for Leaders, or dive into the Digital Transformation and AI Learning Track, which allows you to complete three courses in the subject area to earn an advanced Certificate of Specialization. Not sure where to begin? Download our free course flowchart to choose the right digital transformation and AI program for you and your team.
This post was updated on January 13, 2026. It was originally published on August 28, 2024.
