From Concept to Capability
There continues to be a gap in the C-suite and their fluency in AI. But this disconnect is narrowing. However, that gap also signals an opportunity for insights professionals and teams to embrace AI and make it their own. Some might feel that learning to leverage AI in a business sense is now an imperative. We have all heard the of the philosophy of “learn or be left behind,” and AI seems to be leading the way in terms of technological transformation and advancing business operations.
So, just what is AI fluency? According to “The 8% Problem and Why AI Fluency in Leadership is an Urgent Business Priority,” from Lantern Studios, “AI fluency is not about writing code or understanding the fine-tuned parameters of a neural network. It is about something far more foundational and strategic. At its core, AI fluency is the ability to grasp what AI can and can’t do, contextualize it within a business environment, and make informed decisions that move the organization forward.”
The lack of clarity around AI is often giving way to leaders and teams finding value in the technology by leveraging it to shape vision, strategy and execution. As Lantern Studios notes, fluency enables leaders to ask the right questions:
- How might AI change how we work, serve customers, or make decisions?
- Where are the real risks, and what are the unintended consequences?
- How do we balance automation with human creativity and judgment?
“Without that working understanding, AI becomes a buzzword rather than a business tool,” observes Lantern Studios. “Teams are left without clear direction. Initiatives start strong but stall when they encounter complexity. Organizations lose valuable time chasing tools instead of outcomes. Put simply, you can’t lead what you don’t understand.”
From Fear to Fluency
During TMRE 2025, Kendra Speed, Director of Consumer Market Research at LinkedIn, will hold the session, “From Fear to Fluency: Guiding Insights Teams into the Future of AI.” AI is here—and it’s moving fast. But for many insights teams, it still feels intimidating, urgent, and unclear where to even start. In this session, Speed shares what it really takes to get your team moving—not just with tools, but with the confidence to explore, learn, and lead. You’ll hear practical strategies for building skills, encouraging experimentation, and getting your team comfortable with AI—even when the future feels overwhelming. No hype. Just real talk, smart moves, and a few mindset shifts that make all the difference.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize common fears and barriers that prevent research teams from engaging with AI tools and workflows.
- Design an intentional upskilling path that aligns with business goals and team readiness levels.
- Build AI capabilities in the flow of work, using real use cases to spark learning and experimentation.
- Foster a culture of curiosity and confidence, even amid urgency and ambiguity.
- Lead with influence, helping cross-functional partners see the value of AI-enhanced insights.
The Ripple Effect
Low fluency in AI at the top and throughout the organization has a ripple effect, but the same could be said of the opposite. When fluency is high, alignment, actionable decisions and honing a strategic vision, even a wholesale transformation, can take place in the business.
Lantern Studios relates how generative learning models require more than technical oversight. They require leadership that understands how technology and people shape each other in real time. According to Lantern, effective leadership in the era of AI means:
- Understanding possibilities: Recognizing where AI can create new value across the organization.
- Navigating responsibility: Managing ethical implications, data privacy concerns, and human impacts thoughtfully.
- Shaping strategic direction: Connecting AI capabilities to broader business goals with clear purpose and outcomes.
- Empowering collaboration: Designing environments where technology augments human creativity rather than replaces it.
AI fluency is a skill that can be adapted and built into a corporate organization, and indeed filter down to insights teams. You don’t need to be a technology expert. Instead, understand where your leadership teams stand, make learning contextual and relevant, and leverage the insights skills you have already developed to hone your AI positioning.
As Lantern Studios notes, “Building fluency requires continuous investment in learning, reflection, and real-world experimentation. Organizations that commit to developing leadership fluency position themselves to capture the full value of AI innovation.”
AI is already here to stay. The question becomes for each individual and leader, will you fear it or become fluent in it?
Video courtesy of Market Research Institute International
