About this episode
My creative experience building an AI podcast co-host says it all. Hear all about it on the next episode of the Psych Tech @ Work Podcast - coming soon!AI skills are essential but dauntingAI adoption is accelerating—over 70% of companies report they’re actively integrating AI tools into their workflows. But for the people expected to use those tools, it’s a different story.Most professionals say they feel unprepared or even anxious about using AI on the job. Traditional training often falls short with AI skills because it focuses on tools, not mindset.And the stakes are high: as AI becomes embedded in everyday work, careers will increasingly rely on comfort and expertise with AI.This gap and the demand for innovative strategies to close it has been top of mind for me. Good news - my fascination with AI led me to a solution! (more on this later)Creativity unlocks AI skillsI recently gave a talk at a meeting of the New Orleans AI Philosopher’s group (AKA NOAI), on AI and the future of our local economy.At this event I saw a talk by Jimmy Lepore Hagan—an artist, designer and educator—who shared a fascinating approach to AI adoption that is fresh, unique, and noteworthy.Jimmy’s talk was about the value of creativity in lowering fear of AI. He demonstrated some concepts from a workshop series he has developed featuring a series of low stakes, creative exercises grounded in design thinking to help people build comfort, confidence, and curiosity when working with AI.As a workplace psychologist I immediately saw the potential for a collaboration - applying Jimmy’s hands-on educational model to my world to help people leaders solve a difficult problem.As someone who’s spent decades applying psychological science to the development and measurement of human traits in the workplace, I have experience understanding the impact of creativity on outcomes that are directly related to work performance.As I processed this stuff- I took a step back and reviewed foundational research that shaped my earlier work—this time, through the lens of AI. The connections stood out immediately. Traits like divergent thinking, cognitive flexibility, and creative self-efficacy have long been linked to performance, but they also play a critical role in how people approach new, uncertain technologies. The evidence is clear: creativity and experiential learning do more than build skills—they tap into deeply h
