Top 5 AI skills that non-technical professionals can learn today

If you haven’t already gotten on board the AI train, now is the time to invest in the skills that will improve your efficiency and unlock new opportunities.

Luckily, you don’t need to be a data scientist or software engineer to benefit from AI. 

There are several AI-related skills that non-technical professionals in every industry can easily learn to improve their work performance.

In this article, dive into the top five skills that will help you leverage AI in your day-to-day routine.

1. AI fundamentals

For non-technical professionals, understanding the fundamentals of AI can seem daunting. After all, the world of AI just keeps getting more and more complex…and we’re all just busy people at the end of the day.

However, having a basic understanding of AI concepts can help you evaluate AI projects and tools in your organisation, allowing you to work more effectively with technical teams and use AI in your daily tasks in all sorts of different applications. 

Key concepts to learn:

• The basics of AI: Familiarise yourself with what AI is, how it works, and what it can do. At its core, AI is about creating systems that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence, like problem-solving and decision-making.
• Machine Learning (ML):  This is a subset of AI where machines learn from data to make predictions, similar to how Netflix recommends shows to viewers. Understanding ML is vital because many AI applications, like recommendation engines and predictive analytics, rely on it.
• Natural Language Processing (NLP): NLP is all about how machines understand and process human language. Knowing how NLP works can help you understand how chatbots and virtual assistants work, which are becoming increasingly integrated in customer service and sales.

With a basic understanding of AI, you can ask the right questions, evaluate tools, and spot AI opportunities in your own role. Whether you’re in HR, customer service or any other industry, this knowledge helps you leverage AI tools to improve your workflow.

At Academy Xi, we offer an AI Fundamentals workshop to equip you and your team with the practical skills to harness AI. Download the workshop guide here. 

2. Prompt engineering

In simple terms, prompt engineering is about knowing how to ask AI the right questions. Whether you’re using tools like ChatGPT or other AI models, the way you frame your requests directly impacts the quality of the results you get. 

For non-technical professionals, mastering prompt engineering can make a huge difference in how effectively you use AI to improve your work, without needing to be a tech expert.

How you can create effective prompts:

• Be specific: The more details you give the AI, the better the response. For example, instead of asking, “Tell me about retail,” try something more specific like, “What are the top three retail trends impacting small businesses in 2024?”
• Use examples: If you’re looking for a specific style or format, give the AI an example. If you need a certain tone or structure for an email, show the AI a sample, and it will follow suit.
• Refine your requests: If the AI’s answer isn’t exactly what you were hoping for, don’t hesitate to tweak your prompt. Maybe you need more details or a different angle – just keep refining until you get the perfect response.
• Set clear boundaries: Let the AI know what you’re looking for. For instance, if you need a concise response, specify the length or focus, such as “Write a 300-word summary on the benefits of using sustainable packaging in e-commerce.”

Mastering prompt engineering allows you to take full advantage of AI. You get more accurate and useful responses from AI tools, saving you time, while generating creative ideas that’s aligned with your goals.