Numerous reports predict the significant impact of AI on job displacement, leaving many white-collar workers uncertain about the future. The introduction of ChatGPT last November sparked both excitement and apprehension about its potential to revolutionize work. However, organizational change takes time, and many companies are struggling to adapt amid overwhelming anticipation. Consequently, employees are left in a state of uncertainty, eagerly awaiting clear guidelines and training from their employers. A survey conducted by Boston Consulting Group Inc. revealed that over 85% of employees believe they will require training to understand how AI will alter their jobs, yet less than 15% have actually received any training. But this could soon change. While some companies have outright banned or restricted the use of tools like ChatGPT due to information security concerns, others have fully embraced generative AI and are scrambling to develop and implement company-wide training programs. Consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, for example, will roll out mandatory training for its entire US workforce over a five-month period, commencing in August. Yolanda Seals-Coffield, PwC's US Chief People Officer, emphasized the importance of demystifying the technology and introducing people to its concepts as an initial step. PwC has categorized its employees into three layers based on their level of understanding, with the first layer involving mandatory training for all staff, regardless of their roles, to familiarize them with the basics of generative AI, its functioning, best practices, and ethical use. Despite providing detailed training, PwC has deliberately set a deadline for completion by December, recognizing the technology's ongoing evolution and the need for potential adjustments by January. Other companies, like Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. , have opted for a slightly more flexible approach.

They offer voluntary formal training for employees during their own time, with two virtual sessions per week focusing on best practices. Additionally, the company has introduced an enhanced version of their training program with a stronger emphasis on generative AI for new hires. Digital consultancy Publicis Sapient has chosen a more targeted strategy, making prompt engineering – the skill of composing precise questions to obtain optimal responses from the chatbot – mandatory for all employees, albeit with variations depending on their job nature. To kickstart this initiative, engineers are required to complete the training by September. Some companies are adopting a learn-by-doing approach. Coursera Inc. , an online learning platform, recently announced that they would reimburse employees who wanted to upgrade to the enterprise version of ChatGPT. Employees were encouraged to experiment with the technology in their work and share their findings through a dedicated Slack channel and regular all-hands meetings. CEO Jeff Maggioncalda prioritized speed, aiming to empower employees with the new technology as quickly as possible, enabling them to commence their learning journey. However, Maggioncalda acknowledged that this transformation should not rest solely on individual employees' attempts to figure it out or senior leaders dictating how things should be done. He emphasized the crucial role of middle managers, who need to be equipped with the skills to guide their direct reports in adapting to their evolving job requirements. Coursera is currently working on developing training for this purpose. Maggioncalda emphasized the need for a collaborative effort rather than expecting individuals to navigate the changes alone, stating, "I can't tell every single person how the job is going to be different, but you can't just say, 'Oh go figure it out. '"