AI fluency: The must-have skill for every employee

When you think about artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, your first thought might be, “AI is going to replace me.” However,  As mentioned during our recent AI Fluency webinar, AI will not replace your role; however, employees who are fluent in using AI tools may gain a significant competitive advantage in the workplace. This is your sign to start harnessing the advantages of AI in your day-to-day activities.

When we think of AI, we often imagine image or video generation or using it as the next-generation search engine, dictionary, or encyclopaedia. While AI can certainly do these things, limiting its use to just that would be a missed opportunity. AI is capable of much more complex tasks that can streamline your day or allow you to focus on higher-value activities while it handles routine work.

What is AI fluency?

Fluency refers to how adept a person is at understanding or using a particular skill or language. AI fluency, then, is how skilled a person is in understanding, using and effectively collaborating with AI tools. How do you measure AI fluency? What do you need to do to become fluent in AI? This article will help you get an understanding of fluency in AI.

What skills do I need to be fluent in AI?

Prompt engineering

Prompts, or inputs from the users, are key when using AI. The more generic a prompt is, the more questions the AI will ask to make sure it understands your requirements. The more detailed the prompt, the clearer it is what is needed, and the lower the chance of mistakes that require further prompts for editing.

Stuck writing a piece of code? You can ask your favourite AI tool to generate it for you. It often comes with explanations, so you learn as you go. If you integrate the output into your code it might work correctly within the first few runs, saving you from spending an entire day testing. Need to prepare a presentation for your next meeting? Provide the details or an outline, and you could have a draft ready within an hour instead of spending a whole day building it. That leaves you seven hours to focus on other tasks that need your attention.

An HR professional might use AI to quickly scan resumes and identify the best matching candidates for the job descriptions. A marketing professional might use AI to generate engaging text or content for social media posts or campaigns. We could give many more examples, but one point remains clear: AI is here to help you in your daily activities, not to replace you.

Critical evaluation of AI outputs

An important point to keep in mind is that AI can make mistakes. It’s like a child constantly learning to navigate the world. Any output you receive needs to be checked carefully for two reasons. First, to identify any inconsistencies or unintentional errors resulting from how your prompt was interpreted (hence the need for prompt engineering). Second, to determine if any amendments are needed, in which case you can then ask for modifications. As this process repeats, the AI “learns” your preferences and delivers more precise results the next time you use it.

Continuous learning mindset

AI is evolving every day. As an emerging technology which constantly receives updates, it is important to remain fluent by staying up to date with the latest functionalities and feature upgrades, so you remain at the top of your game. When experimenting, it’s not about the mistakes  made but about the learning journey.

Ethical awareness around the use of AI

As AI continues to reshape how work is done, ethical awareness must remain central to its adoption and use. Deloitte’s approach to AI is grounded in its Commitment to Ethical Technology and guided by the Global Principles of Business Conduct, which set clear expectations around integrity, accountability, fairness and respect for privacy. This means recognising that AI systems can amplify bias or produce unintended outcomes, and that human judgement and oversight remain critical at all times. It also requires careful consideration of the data used, ensuring that sensitive or personal information is protected and that AI-enabled outputs are used transparently, particularly when they inform decisions with material impact. Embedding ethical awareness into everyday AI use helps build trust, supports responsible innovation and enables organisations to realise the value of AI in a way that is sustainable and aligned with their values.

Organisational support

Employers can support their employees in becoming fluent in AI by providing the right training (internal or external). AI fluency needs to become part of the organisation’s culture. Speaking about AI should not be a taboo. Encourage its use and reduce the misconception that AI threatens a person’s job.

All in all, AI is a tool in your arsenal, best used to help you be more efficient throughout your day. No one knows exactly what the future holds. It’s possible that AI will become more autonomous and able to do even more with minimal prompting. Just as sci-fi movies from the 80s and 90s once seemed out of this world but are now part of everyday life, we might imagine things today that will become the norm tomorrow.

About the author