As technology evolves at breakneck speed, companies everywhere are racing to integrate AI into their business operations. One company leading the charge is UBS, a global leader in financial services.
We had the pleasure of speaking with James Utting, Chief Business Officer in the Emerging Technology Group at UBS, who shared powerful insights into how the company is building an AI-first culture. And trust us, there’s plenty to take away from their approach!
Here’s a deep dive into our conversation, packed with practical tips to help you drive AI adoption in your own organisation.
What is an AI-First Culture?
An AI-first culture is about making AI a central part of everyday decision-making and operations. The concept is simple but powerful: when faced with a challenge, whether big or small, you ask: ‘Can this be done better, faster, or more efficiently with AI?’
James explains this approach:
“For us, an AI-first culture is a place where when you wake up in the morning and you log on and you're faced with a challenge, whether that be a micro one or a macro one, so a day-to-day task or a bigger thing that you're trying to solve for and we're asking ourselves, first, can I do this better? Can I do this faster? Or can I do it more efficiently with AI? We're trying to get to a place that we're incorporating AI into our decision-making sort of capabilities and into how we live and breathe as employers at UBS.”
Why is AI-First Culture Important in Business?
The real value of AI in business is not to replace humans, but to empower them. As James puts it,
“It isn't about replacing humans with AI. It's really this kind of concept of augmenting humans with AI, and allowing our employees to be more empowered to make better and faster decisions for our clients.”
And let’s be real, who wouldn’t want that? When AI takes care of the repetitive, time-consuming tasks, your team gets back more time and brainpower to focus on higher-level creativity, problem-solving, and customer relationships.
Implementing AI-First Culture in Your Organisation
If the idea of AI-ready culture sounds overwhelming, don’t worry. It’s absolutely achievable with the right approach. Here are five strategies we learned from James and UBS.
1. Communicate the Vision Clearly
For an AI-culture to take root, everyone in your organisation needs to understand the vision. Be clear, consistent, and don’t be afraid to repeat the message. Because when employees truly grasp the vision, they’re far more likely to embrace it.
2. Tailor the Approach to Unique Needs
AI adoption isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Different teams will have different needs, levels of expertise, and ways they interact with AI, so it’s important to meet them where they are. UBS recognised this early on and structured their approach around distinct groups within the company, ensuring they all received a tailored approach.
3. Identify and Empower AI Champions
In any organisation, there will be individuals who are particularly enthusiastic about new technology. Identify these AI champions; they are employees who can lead the charge in educating and inspiring others. They can act as the go-to experts, helping peers get comfortable with AI tools and serving as advocates for the culture change.
4. Start With Why
The foundation of an AI-first culture isn’t built in a vacuum. It starts with a clear purpose. So, before diving into AI adoption, ask yourself: Why are we doing this?
What are the most meaningful outcomes for your business? AI offers countless possibilities, but not every path will be right for you. Avoid the temptation to build a strategy that tries to be everything for everyone. Focus instead on what will drive real impact for your industry, business model, and employees.
5. Upskill Your Workplace
To make an AI-first culture a success, invest in upskilling your workforce. Provide training programs and resources to help your team develop the skills they need to use AI tools confidently. Not only will this improve their performance, but it will also create a culture of continuous learning and innovation. And let’s face it, these are necessities in today’s day and age.
Unlock the Power of AI in Your Business
AI is only as powerful as people using it. Give your team the right tools and open the door to innovation, creativity, and unparalleled efficiency.
Programmes like Cambridge Spark’s AI Champion Apprenticeship (Level 3) are ideal for accelerating this transformation. It’s a fantastic way to help your workforce embrace AI and gain the expertise necessary to drive innovation for your business.