Every Monday at 7 a.m., a cohort of Principal employees jump on a Teams call for a quick study group. Typically chaired by the chief digital and artificial intelligence officer (CDAIO) or someone else on the team, the 300-plus and growing learning community digs into the technology, cultural, and organizational impacts of generative AI. There are deep dives into the implications of new gen AI models, discussions of compliance and ethical risks, and knowledge sharing around emerging use cases and technical best practices.
The study group, which took root when ChatGPT was introduced in November 2022, is now a formalized effort intent on exposing all Principal employees — not just a select few — to what’s fast emerged as a business-defining technology. The study group, one piece of a broader change management and AI literacy campaign, is designed to bring Principal employees and leadership up to speed on generative AI’s ground-breaking potential while generating confidence and enthusiasm in the technology to improve long-standing work patterns.
“Through education and literacy initiatives, we’re cultivating an AI mindset that will drive adoption, innovation, and meaningful business impact across the organization,” says Kathy Kay, executive vice president and CIO at Principal Financial Group, a global financial investment and insurance company. “You’re doing a disservice if you don’t teach everyone how to leverage the technology because it’s going to be table stakes in the future.”
