'Introducing AI in Work' Trend... SMEs and Ventures Also Start Enhancing Employees' AI Skills

Corporate Competitiveness Directly Linked to Employees' AI Capabilities
Diverse Training and Technical Support for AI Transformation

As artificial intelligence (AI) begins to spread across all aspects of work, companies are actively moving to enhance their employees' AI capabilities. This is based on the judgment that corporate competitiveness in a rapidly changing era is directly linked to employees' AI skills. The fields where AI is being introduced are extensive, including not only research and development but also marketing, service, sales, and business strategy. Accordingly, not only large corporations but also small and medium-sized ventures are launching various training programs to enable employees to effectively utilize AI in their work.

Jung Kwangcheon, President of the Inno-Biz Association (right), and Cho Wonwoo, CEO of Microsoft Korea, are posing for a commemorative photo after signing an agreement. Photo by Inno-Biz Association

On the 22nd, the Inno-Biz Association announced that it would collaborate with Microsoft to provide various training and technical support for the AI transformation (AX) of technology-innovative small and medium enterprises (SMEs). To this end, the association and Microsoft Korea signed a 'Business Agreement to Support AX for Technology-Innovative SMEs' earlier that day. Specifically, the association and Microsoft plan to promote rank-based training and seminars to accelerate digital transformation for technology-innovative SMEs, as well as the distribution and expansion of dedicated solutions for these SMEs. In particular, consulting on AI introduction, implementation, and utilization will be promoted targeting Inno-Biz companies and member firms.

In the venture and startup sector, AI education for employees is conducted more actively. For example, IT startup TeamSparta held an AI education conference called 'AI EduCon' earlier this month to support employee growth, skill enhancement, and networking. Various programs were conducted to improve understanding and utilization of AI, ranging from the latest technological trends to generating new ideas based on these trends and supporting developer growth. Especially, sessions focused on practical cases helped employees use AI more effectively in their daily work, receiving positive feedback.

At the agricultural company Daedong, a two-month Data Intelligence Lab training was conducted this year for executives and employees to promote AI-based future business. The training focused on understanding digital technologies using generative AI and enhancing work efficiency to strengthen AI-based business competitiveness. About 200 people, equivalent to one-third of Daedong's entire management staff, completed this training. In particular, team leaders across the company were educated on the topic 'Understanding Generative AI and Work Smart Practical Innovation,' providing concrete cases and methods for utilizing AI in team tasks.

This change is due to the increasing number of companies adopting AI regardless of their size. According to the 'Startup Trend Report 2024' recently released by Startup Alliance and Open Survey, the rate of AI adoption in job functions was 40% for large corporations and 48.5% for startups. Additionally, 48.1% of founders who introduced AI in their companies mainly used AI in research and development (48.1%), marketing (33.7%), customer service (29.8%), and sales (17.3%). The capabilities that founders consider important when hiring employees due to AI adoption were 'the ability to effectively utilize AI and the latest technological tools (43.0%)' and 'creative thinking and innovation that are difficult to replace by AI (40.5%).'

An industry insider said, "Attempts to achieve innovation by applying AI not only to research and development but also to corporate organization, culture, and environment are actively underway," adding, "Efforts to enhance employees' AI capabilities to secure competitiveness will continue."