Previous Posts 2025

A OneStep View

June 2025

Gen AI: friend or foe?

Gen AI is predicted to reach mainstream adoption by 2026, with an ever increasing number of people already applying it in their personal lives. Full implications for organisations are still emerging both from a strategic and tactical perspective – but what is clear, is it’s not just about the tech. Effective implementation is all about the people.

At OneStep we’re often asked how to help people get on board with Gen AI and, “Is this different from any other tech adoption programme?”.

Our answer: yes and no.

NO: your fundamental change principles shouldn’t be thrown away:

  • Understand your impact assessment: Who’s impacted? What’s the nature of the change - knowledge / skills / habits / mindsets? What’s the gap to be traversed?

  • Reinforce the why: How will your AI programme help achieve your strategy? How does this align with our values? What’s exciting/beneficial – to the organization, teams and individuals?

  • Co-create a meaningful change strategy: What are people really experiencing now? How can this be made easy? What support is needed at different levels? How do we cut through the noise?

  • Implement iteratively and learn as you go: What are you learning from the adoption data? How can you pivot for more impact? What else is needed to really embed this?

Clearly articulate the vision and use case for new tools, aligning to your strategy and employee experience

Run pilots, test and learn, follow the facts not the hype

YES: there are some significant nuances to consider:

  • Adoption appetites: introducing GenAI typically reveals tensions between early adopters (already using it personally) and others who may be fearful/resistant of new tools and implications for their jobs; avoid alienating either group

  • Emerging market: it’s unclear how/where Gen AI solutions will have the most impact, so your ‘north star’ might be ambiguous; if so, be consistent in the principles and ambition by which you communicate your AI agenda

  • Ethical and legal implications: don’t underestimate what’s needed to address bias, data privacy, regulatory compliance – be transparent and pragmatic about keeping people and your business safe and inclusive

  • Digital dexterity: the greater a workforce’s willingness and ability to learn and use new technologies (‘digital dexterity’), the higher the chances of AI change success; if your people aren’t digitally savvy it might be time to build better online skills, fast; act inclusively and strategically

It’s also worth noting that whilst the global urge to rush headfirst into AI is real, decisions about platforms, usage and adoption efforts must be in the best interest of your strategy. Take a balanced approach and explore options, make sensible bets, then test and learn. Don’t get caught in the hype cycle!

Key stages for AI change management

Assess workforce digital dexterity and invest early in foundational training (eg Digital Academy)

Embed guardrails to manage risk around privacy and AI-biases

Use early adopters to create training material and generate more of a ‘pull’

So to the question of whether we’re in a new world or not, the answer is ‘yes and no’ – yes to understanding the nuanced implications of implementing AI, no to throwing out your existing change management fundamentals.

OneStep is a strategic change consultancy that partners with clients to help navigate large-scale transformation

Identify early adopters, let them play and experiment; build excitement and insights

Scale with consideration for varying appetites and fears

Track adoption, measure success and support low adoption groups