OCN NI Week Six

• AI
• Higher Education (degree)

OCN NI Week Six

Learning Outcomes:

1.  Explain the potential barriers to AI

readiness.

2. Analyse the actions which may be taken to

promote AI readiness.

AI Readiness 

AI readiness refers to an organisation’s or society’s ability to successfully adopt and implement artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. It involves having the right infrastructure, skills, and strategies to integrate AI effectively.

Key Attributes of AI Readiness 

🔹 Data Availability & Quality

AI systems rely on large amounts of high-quality data to function effectively.

Organisations must ensure data is accurate, diverse, and secure.

💡 Example: A healthcare provider must have well-organised patient records to train AI models for disease detection.

Key Attributes of AI Readiness 

🔹 Skilled Workforce & AI Literacy

Employees need technical skills (machine learning, programming) and soft skills (critical thinking, problem-solving).

AI literacy must be promoted at all levels, from leadership to frontline staff.

💡 Example: Companies invest in AI training to upskill employees in using automation tools.

Key Attributes of AI Readiness 

🔹 Ethical & Regulatory Compliance

AI must be developed with transparency, fairness, and accountability.

Governments and organisations should create policies to prevent bias and discrimination.

💡 Example: The EU’s AI Act sets strict guidelines for ethical AI development.

Key Attributes of AI Readiness 

🔹 Robust IT Infrastructure

Organisations need computing power, cloud storage, and secure networks to run AI applications efficiently.

AI models require high-speed processing capabilities.

💡 Example: Self-driving car companies need powerful AI chips to process real-time data from sensors.

Key Attributes of AI Readiness 

🔹 AI Strategy & Leadership Support

Clear goals and strategies ensure AI adoption aligns with business objectives.

Leadership must drive AI initiatives and support innovation.

💡 Example: A bank implementing AI-driven fraud detection must have a roadmap for its integration and staff training.

Potential Barriers To AI Readiness 

⚠️ Lack of High-Quality Data

Many organisations struggle with incomplete, unstructured, or biased data.

Poor data quality leads to inaccurate AI predictions.

💡 Example: AI-driven hiring tools can be biased if trained on datasets that lack diversity.

Potential Barriers To AI Readiness 

⚠️ Skills Gap & Resistance to Change

Many employees lack AI knowledge, causing resistance to new technologies.

Upskilling programs may be expensive or time-consuming.

💡 Example: Factory workers may fear job losses due to AI automation, slowing adoption.

Potential Barriers To AI Readiness 

⚠️ Ethical & Legal Concerns

AI can be misused, leading to privacy violations, bias, and security risks.

Strict regulations can make AI deployment complex and slow.

💡 Example: AI-powered facial recognition raises concerns about surveillance and privacy breaches.

Which industries do you think are most ready for AI adoption? Why?

Promoting AI Readiness 

To successfully integrate artificial intelligence (AI), organisations and governments must take strategic actions to ensure AI readiness. These actions address technological, ethical, and workforce-related challenges, allowing AI to be effectively deployed.

Does Anyone Know Laws/Guidelines For AI Use In The UK?

UK Law/Guidelines 

National AI Strategy

Launched in September 2021, the UK's National AI Strategy outlines a 10-year plan to position the nation as a global leader in AI. 

The strategy focuses on:

Investing in AI: Enhancing public and private funding for AI research and innovation.

Ensuring AI Benefits All Sectors: Promoting widespread AI adoption across various industries.

Governing AI Effectively: Establishing a pro-innovation regulatory environment.

Promoting AI Readiness 

 Strengthening Data Management & Infrastructure

🔹 Ensure High-Quality Data

Establish data collection, cleaning, and governance processes.

Invest in data security and privacy measures to comply with regulations.

💡 Example: Hospitals implementing AI diagnostics must ensure patient data is accurate, secure, and ethically managed.

Promoting AI Readiness 

 Strengthening Data Management & Infrastructure

🔹 Invest in Scalable IT Infrastructure

Upgrade computing power, cloud storage, and network security.

Implement AI-friendly hardware (GPUs, cloud computing) and software.

💡 Example: Autonomous vehicle companies need real-time data processing to analyse road conditions.

Promoting AI Readiness 

 Developing a Skilled AI Workforce

🔹 Upskill & Reskill Employees

Provide AI training and certifications for employees at all levels.

Encourage a culture of continuous learning through workshops and online courses.

💡 Example: Companies like Amazon and Google offer AI training programs to help employees adapt to automation.

Promoting AI Readiness 

 Developing a Skilled AI Workforce

🔹 Foster AI Literacy & Awareness

Educate leadership and employees on AI’s benefits and ethical considerations.

Promote collaboration between AI experts and business teams.

💡 Example: A bank training its customer service team to use AI chatbots effectively while maintaining human oversight.

Promoting AI Readiness 

 Establishing Ethical & Regulatory Frameworks

🔹 Develop AI Governance Policies

Set clear guidelines for transparency, accountability, and fairness in AI applications.

Ensure AI systems comply with data protection laws like GDPR.

💡 Example: The EU AI Act ensures that high-risk AI applications meet strict ethical and safety standards.

Promoting AI Readiness 

 Establishing Ethical & Regulatory Frameworks

🔹 Address Bias & Fairness in AI Models

Regularly audit AI algorithms for biases in data and decision-making.

Promote diverse and representative datasets.

💡 Example: AI hiring tools must be tested to prevent bias against gender, race, or other factors.

Promoting AI Readiness 

 Encouraging Collaboration & Innovation

🔹 Partner with AI Research Institutions & Startups

Collaborate with universities, AI labs, and industry experts.

Invest in AI-driven innovation hubs and incubators.

💡 Example: Microsoft and OpenAI’s partnership led to the development of ChatGPT.

Promoting AI Readiness 

 Encouraging Collaboration & Innovation

🔹 Test & Pilot AI Projects

Start with small-scale AI pilots before full-scale deployment.

Gather feedback and optimise AI models for better performance.

💡 Example: Banks test AI fraud detection systems on limited transactions before full implementation.

Assignment Work?

Yes

No

Reading Week Needed?
(Work on assignment work and i am in the background to answer questions)

Yes

No

Not Sure