Should you include AI skills in your company onboarding training?

AI is disrupting the entire workforce – with new applications discovered daily. From new software to customer engagement, artificial intelligence is now part of the DNA of today's businesses. And yet, a large number of businesses still consider AI skills training as a luxury or a future phase of staff development.

This could be a mistake.

Do you feel like your team is falling behind? Well, today's top organizations understand that enterprise AI talent is a fundamental capability. So the question isn't whether we build AI workforce competencies… but when.

The answer: day one. AI skills should be an integral part of an employee's first days of onboarding. 

Why AI skills matter on day one

In today's business, every function – marketing, finance, operations, HR – will be enhanced by AI. Be it using generative AI software like ChatGPT or Claude, predictive analytics, or intelligent automation, workers are now asked by managers, clients, and team members to make AI a part of their everyday work. There’s almost no avoiding it.

However, most onboarding programs hardly scratch the surface. In fact, they haven’t caught up at all, and this is a missed opportunity.

AI fluency accelerates decision-making, allows for innovation, and prevents rework. And when applied early, it gets new hires thinking about their work with confidence and competence.

Onboarding is the new learning ground

Onboarding is no longer what it used to be. It is no longer paperwork and policy. Instead, a strong onboarding program creates the very first real opportunity to shape employee behavior, create basic enterprise AI competency, and define their incoming capability.

Companies like Capgemini are already doing this by building up an emerging leaders program for newer, or younger, employees. By developing early leader skills, they lay the foundation of a future-ready workforce.

Why not do the same with AI skills?

If you could immerse learners in scenarios that implement AI into their everyday workflows – all before starting their job – they become even more productive contributors from day one.

Building AI skills with immersive learning

How do you implement this training in onboarding? Well, you can actually use immersive learning to build AI capability.

Forward-thinking organizations are combining immersive learning to onboard employees effectively. This approach lets companies measure and develop skills starting when new team members walk through the door.

What does this look like?

• Adaptive Learning Paths: Immersive learning allows you to build onboarding experiences through scenario-based learning, building realistic situations for the learner to work through.
• Immersive Simulations: New hires can apply AI in real-time contexts — such as using AI tools to resolve customer support issues, identifying LLM bias, or interpreting AI-generated data – within the safety of a simulation like this.
• Skills Verification and Skills Data: Not only can you collect skills data from these immersive simulations and immersive learning scenarios, you can apply that data to make better decisions about your workforce… and identify which AI skills your employees will need in the future.

What does AI-infused onboarding look like?

Below, you’ll find some examples of immersive AI skills training modules which can be incorporated into your onboarding.

These could easily be built into high-impact immersive simulations for your employees.

• A virtual client scenario in which an LLM provides suggestions… Do you use them, edit them, or start over?
• A decision-making exercise on responsibly applying AI to scan resumes during the hiring process without bias
• A real-time AI prompt creation exercise that tests your ability to create insights with generative AI tools

These interactive training experiences make employees think on their feet, test their skills in real time, and become “fluent” in AI without relying on YouTube videos, random training courses, or their best guesses.

You set the tone. You set the scenario. They learn what you need them to.

Don't wait to build the future

Onboarding shouldn’t be passive. And with the rise of AI and demand for AI skills, it’s crucial to include this in your onboarding as an organization. It's a springboard for employees to become successful in the new age of technology. 

Businesses that invest in early immersive AI training will see increased performance, faster people development, and a stronger culture of innovation. By adding immersive learning to build AI skills, you build a workforce that is prepared for the future.

Want to see what a simulation looks like in action? Experiment with a test simulation here →