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Immagine del redattoreAndrea Viliotti

Augmented Learners: How Companies Can Face Uncertainty with AI

In modern business, uncertainty is one of the main challenges for companies. In a world where consumer preferences change rapidly, talent migrates between different organizations, and regulations continuously evolve, companies must learn to manage uncertainty in order to survive and thrive. This is where the concept of Augmented Learners comes into play—an approach that combines organizational learning with the learning capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI), enabling companies to tackle uncertainty with greater preparedness.

This concept was developed thanks to research conducted by Sam Ransbotham, David Kiron, Shervin Khodabandeh, Michael Chu, and Leonid Zhukhov in collaboration with MIT Sloan Management Review and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The research focused on the importance of combining organizational learning with AI to improve companies' ability to manage uncertainty.

Augmented Learners: How Companies Can Face Uncertainty with AI
Augmented Learners: How Companies Can Face Uncertainty with AI

Research and Methodology Behind Augmented Learners

The methodology behind Augmented Learners is based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative studies that involved a wide range of companies and industries. The research conducted by MIT Sloan Management Review and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) gathered data from a global survey of 3,467 participants from over 21 industries and 136 countries. This quantitative approach provided a detailed view of companies' learning capabilities and ability to manage uncertainty.

In addition to the quantitative data, the research included interviews with nine executives leading AI initiatives across various sectors, such as financial services, technology, retail, transportation, and healthcare. These interviews provided a qualitative perspective that helped understand how AI is used to enhance learning and resilience within organizations.


The research also used a segmentation of learning capabilities to classify companies into four categories:

  1. Limited Learners

  2. Organizational Learners

  3. AI-specific Learners

  4. Augmented Learners


This segmentation was conducted based on specific questions regarding organizational learning practices and the use of AI to enhance knowledge and company performance. The questions covered aspects like learning from experiments, codifying lessons learned, and the ability to learn through AI.


Moreover, it was found that companies combining organizational learning with AI (the Augmented Learners) are 1.6-2.2 times more prepared to manage uncertainties compared to those with limited capabilities. Specifically, they are significantly better prepared to manage technological, regulatory, and talent-related discontinuities compared to Limited Learners. This preparedness enables them not only to achieve financial benefits but also to develop greater strategic management capabilities and organizational resilience.

The research also highlighted the practical benefits and ethical risks of integrating AI into corporate learning. For example, while AI can significantly improve the capture and dissemination of knowledge, there are also risks associated with the perception of invasive employee monitoring and the potential loss of control over knowledge capital. For this reason, it is essential to adopt responsible AI practices that respect corporate values and promote trust among employees.


Finally, the research highlighted how integrating AI into learning processes does not simply represent an incremental improvement but has a multiplier effect on organizational capabilities. By using AI to capture, synthesize, and disseminate knowledge, Augmented Learners can significantly enhance their ability to respond to uncertainty and innovate proactively.


What Are Augmented Learners?

Augmented Learners represent a new paradigm in corporate learning, combining traditional organizational learning capabilities with the potential of AI to gain a competitive advantage. These companies use artificial intelligence not only as a tool to automate processes but as an active partner that facilitates learning and adaptability.

Augmented Learners have an organizational culture oriented towards continuous learning, which includes a willingness to experiment, the courage to fail, and the ability to learn from results—whether successes or failures. This type of learning, enhanced by AI, allows organizations to quickly adapt to market, regulatory, and technological changes. In other words, Augmented Learners develop a dynamic resilience that makes them more capable of facing unexpected events and turning them to their advantage.


Managing Different Types of Uncertainty

The combination of organizational learning and AI-driven learning provides companies with the ability to manage different types of uncertainty:

  • Technological Uncertainty: With AI, companies can analyze emerging technological trends and adapt quickly. AI can help identify technologies that represent a strategic opportunity and those that could pose a threat.

  • Market Uncertainty: Consumer preferences change rapidly, and AI allows companies to monitor these changes in real-time. For example, as in the case of The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC), which uses AI to detect consumer trends and quickly adapt products, AI can turn market data into actionable insights.

  • Talent-Related Uncertainty: AI can support employee learning and training, providing personalized learning paths and helping retain knowledge even when staff turnover is high.


Another distinctive aspect of Augmented Learners is their ability to leverage AI to create synergies between people and machines. In these organizations, AI does not replace human capital but works alongside employees to enhance their capabilities. AI tools can process large amounts of data, identify patterns, and provide recommendations that humans may not be able to see due to cognitive limitations. In this sense, Augmented Learners can transform data into actions more quickly, overcoming the typical limitations of traditional organizations.


To implement this model, it is essential that companies promote a culture that encourages curiosity, innovation, and the use of AI as a learning support tool. Organizations that fail to develop these capabilities risk falling behind and being affected by uncertainty without the ability to adapt.


A concrete example of how this approach translates into practice is Aflac U.S., which has developed a technology incubator to prototype new technologies and evaluate their business potential. This experimental approach has allowed the company to quickly learn which technological solutions best support their strategy, reducing the time needed to bring new ideas from concept to operational reality.


How to Implement Augmented Learners in Companies

To implement the Augmented Learners model, some key steps must be followed. This process requires a mix of tools, technologies, and cultural changes that promote the ability to learn and adapt. Let's look at the main steps in detail.


1. Evaluate Learning Capabilities

The first step is to assess organizational and AI learning capabilities. This can be done by using questions such as:

  • Does the organization learn from experiments?

  • Does the company codify and share lessons learned from projects, whether successful or not?

  • Do employees learn from the AI tools used?

Based on the responses gathered, the company can be classified into one of the following categories: Limited Learners, Organizational Learners, AI-specific Learners, and Augmented Learners. Classification helps identify strengths and areas for improvement, providing a solid basis for building improvement strategies.


2. Develop a Culture of Experimental Learning

To become an Augmented Learner, it is essential to develop a culture that values experimental learning. This means encouraging experimentation, tolerating failures, and learning from mistakes. AI can facilitate this process by providing quick insights and feedback to continuously improve processes. Furthermore, creating safe spaces for innovation, such as experimental labs or teams dedicated to innovation, is crucial to fostering a culture of constant experimentation.


3. Integrate AI for Knowledge Capture and Synthesis

A fundamental aspect of augmented learning is using AI to capture and synthesize knowledge within the organization. AI can help extract tacit knowledge that is not easily formalizable. For example, Slack uses AI solutions to create daily summaries of company communications, allowing employees to stay updated without having to read every single message.

The integration of AI for knowledge capture is particularly useful in environments where speed is crucial and the volume of data to analyze is high, such as in the case of Expedia Group, which uses AI to synthesize data from millions of properties and suggest targeted recommendations to its partners. It is also crucial to develop knowledge management systems that can integrate AI to ensure that the accumulated knowledge within the company is accessible, useful, and continuously updated.


4. Disseminate Knowledge

Organizational learning is not limited to capturing and synthesizing knowledge but also requires effective dissemination. Using AI to distribute knowledge within the company makes the process more inclusive and personalized. For example, AI-supported adaptive training content can provide tailored learning experiences, respecting different learning styles and the specific needs of users.

To improve the dissemination of knowledge, it is also important to develop an internal network for sharing best practices. AI can facilitate the creation of platforms that allow employees to quickly access the best solutions developed throughout the organization. This shared learning capability can expand team skills and promote a collaborative environment where knowledge flows freely across departments and hierarchical levels.


5. Implement an Iterative and Adaptive Approach

Augmented Learners use AI to support an iterative and adaptive approach to learning and project management. This means that projects are not seen as static but are continuously improved based on data and insights generated by AI. Companies should encourage continuous feedback loops, where AI plays a key role in analyzing results and providing suggestions for optimization.

An example could be using AI to analyze project team performance and suggest adjustments. For instance, a company developing a new product can use predictive analytics tools to identify potential obstacles and remove them before they become significant problems. This approach improves project quality and reduces time to market.


6. Training and Strengthening Digital Skills

Finally, to successfully implement Augmented Learners, it is crucial to invest in continuous training and the enhancement of employees' digital skills. Skills related to the use of AI tools and understanding their results are crucial to maximizing the value of augmented learning. Upskilling and reskilling programs must be an integral part of the company strategy, allowing employees to work alongside AI efficiently and productively.


The Benefits of Augmented Learners

Companies that implement Augmented Learners practices achieve numerous benefits. First, these organizations develop greater resilience to changes, thanks to a culture of continuous learning and the strategic use of AI. This allows them to adapt quickly to technological, regulatory, and market changes, ensuring responsiveness that enables them to successfully face even unpredictable scenarios.


Integrating AI into organizational learning practices also leads to significant improvements in financial results, thanks to greater operational efficiency and cost reduction, as well as the ability to identify new revenue opportunities. AI helps optimize processes, improve product and service quality, and thus increase revenue.


Another important advantage of Augmented Learners is the ability to continuously explore new opportunities for value creation. AI enables the identification of opportunities that might escape human detection, such as emerging trends in consumer behavior or innovative technologies to integrate into business processes, making companies more proactive and innovative.


Augmented Learners are also able to improve talent management and reduce turnover. AI personalizes employee training paths, addressing their needs and facilitating the continuous improvement of skills. This approach helps retain talent, offering meaningful growth paths aligned with individual goals, while ensuring that knowledge is not lost but is constantly updated and shared.


Finally, the combination of human learning with AI ensures a sustainable and hard-to-replicate competitive advantage. Augmented Learners can respond more quickly to market changes, anticipate customer needs, and innovate at a faster pace than competitors. This ability to adapt and innovate continuously offers a lasting advantage in the long term.


The Practical Challenges in Implementing Augmented Learners

Implementing the Augmented Learners model presents a series of practical challenges that companies must address to achieve significant results. The first difficulty lies in the need for cultural change within the organization. Moving to an augmented learning model means adopting a mindset oriented towards experimentation and innovation, which does not always find fertile ground in companies with rigid hierarchical structures or a culture focused on minimizing risk. Cultural change requires strong leadership commitment, which must guide the organization towards greater openness to failure as part of the learning process.


Employee Training and Resistance to Change

Another significant challenge concerns employee training. Many workers may not have the necessary skills to effectively use AI tools or integrate the results produced by AI into their daily work. Therefore, it is crucial to invest in upskilling and reskilling programs that enable employees to develop advanced digital skills. However, training is not always easy to implement, as it involves a significant investment of time and resources that not all companies are ready to make. Furthermore, resistance to change on the part of employees can hinder the adoption of new technologies and ways of working.


Data Management

Data management is another critical element. Augmented Learners make extensive use of data to develop insights and make informed decisions, but the quality of this data can represent a challenge. Incomplete, outdated, or poor-quality data can compromise the effectiveness of AI algorithms and lead to wrong decisions. Therefore, companies must invest in good data management, improving capabilities in data collection, cleaning, and analysis. Additionally, it is necessary to ensure that data is managed ethically and in compliance with privacy regulations, avoiding creating legal or trust issues with customers and employees.


Scalability of AI Solutions

Another difficulty is related to the scalability of AI solutions. Many companies may succeed in implementing successful pilot projects but fail to extend them on a large scale. Scaling augmented learning solutions requires adequate technological infrastructure, specialized skills, and a clear vision of how these solutions can integrate with other business operations. Companies must be ready to invest not only in the necessary technologies but also in the people and processes that will make a gradual and successful transition possible.


Trust and Acceptance of AI

Finally, there is the issue of trust and acceptance of AI within the organization. Many employees may perceive AI as a threat to their job or fear increased monitoring and control over their work. It is the responsibility of corporate leaders to address these concerns transparently, clearly communicating how AI will not replace people but rather work alongside them to improve overall results. Creating a trusting environment where employees feel valued and involved in the innovation process is essential for the successful implementation of Augmented Learners.

Overcoming these challenges requires coordinated efforts on multiple fronts: investments in technology and infrastructure, continuous training, strong leadership, and effective communication. Only by proactively addressing and managing these obstacles can companies truly benefit from the potential of Augmented Learners and create an environment capable of evolving and thriving amid uncertainty.


Conclusions

The adoption of the Augmented Learners model leads companies to face a radical change in how they view uncertainty and knowledge. Traditionally, companies have interpreted uncertainty as a variable to minimize or control. In this new paradigm, however, uncertainty becomes a strategic resource, an element to exploit to generate value, as AI allows for monitoring change with a speed and precision that surpass human limits. AI transforms uncertainty from a threat into an opportunity, paving the way for a more proactive company that does not wait to respond to changes but anticipates them, enhancing the ability to innovate.


This new approach forces us to reconsider the boundaries of traditional corporate management, where the focus is on control and process stability. Augmented Learners adopt a fluid model, in which AI enables the company to become a living and adaptive structure, capable of modifying not only its way of operating but also the criteria by which it makes decisions. Thus, it shifts from a rigid organization, based on best practices and standardized processes, to a dynamic network where learning is continuous and data-driven. This approach overturns the classic hierarchical structure, creating a distributed decision-making system that, in the long term, can lead to a less "top-down" and more distributed business model.


Another often underestimated aspect is that the combination of human and artificial intelligence learning promotes the emergence of augmented collective intelligence, a kind of corporate mind that can overcome individual cognitive limitations. When AI is employed to capture and synthesize knowledge, individual insights and experiences are not just documented; they become part of a "shared cognitive heritage," continually updated and accessible to the entire organization. In this way, companies can face the unexpected by drawing not only on present skills but also on a knowledge base that grows and refines with each iteration. AI, therefore, is not just a tool but a "cognitive multiplier" that expands the capabilities of the entire group, exponentially increasing the resilience and adaptability of the company.


This transformation also requires redefining the relationship between humans and technology: it is no longer humans chasing technological progress, but technology integrating to expand human potential. However, this poses an ethical and existential challenge for companies, which must balance AI's analytical power with human vision and intuition, creating AI systems that respect corporate values and do not overshadow human capital. AI should be used not to monitor or replace but to accompany and enhance people's decision-making autonomy. Only companies that can implement this balance will be able to build a trust ecosystem, essential for the adoption and long-term success of the Augmented Learners model.


In conclusion, the Augmented Learners model is a paradigm that challenges established concepts of corporate structure, stability, and control. It is an invitation to rethink the company as an ever-evolving organism, where uncertainty is the fuel for transformative growth and where AI, integrated into processes, does not reduce individuality but multiplies it, shaping a collective and adaptive system. The future success of companies will not depend so much on their ability to predict the future but on their ability to adapt instantly to what they cannot predict.


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