AI Literacy in Job Descriptions Are on the Rise: What Does It Mean?

Bosses want AI-literate candidates, but what does this really mean? The requirement of AI literacy is becoming increasingly common in job descriptions across industries, but there is growing uncertainty about who qualifies as “AI literate.” Most workers have spent some time experimenting with tools like ChatGPT or Gemini, considering their own curiosities by testing these tools. It is easy enough to type out a request and get a response, and most have seen some degree of success with getting the results they want. Does that qualify as sufficient AI literacy as a job skill? Not entirely.

What Does AI Literacy in Job Descriptions Mean?

With the technology that’s emerging today, there is growing pressure to master the tools that are at the disposal of most employees. Some rely on the free services that are easily available to everyone, while others are expected to operate the AI technology that the company has invested heavily in. AI literacy as a job skill can mean many things, from the potential to experiment with the tech to the ability to naturally operate any niche AI tools for the purpose of their work tasks.

Unfortunately, there is no single definition or criteria for AI literacy just yet. When job descriptions come with a requirement for an AI-literate candidate, they typically mean they want individuals who know how to use the technology to perform their specific roles. In the tech industry, where the job is specifically for a role that focuses on the development and maintenance of AI tools, the requirements are undoubtedly more specific. Candidates applying for these posts are expected to have an in-depth understanding of LLMs, coding tools, and the constructs that prop up artificial intelligence. 

AI literacy as a job skill for other positions means that candidates need to have a clear understanding of their job role, and should have ideas on how they can perform their tasks better with AI. For someone in marketing, this might mean an ability to understand a campaign and generate relevant marketing material that they know how to refine further. For a writer, this might mean an ability to generate a unique viewpoint via AI, which they can use to assimilate material and build their story better.

AI Literacy Is the New Workplace Currency, and There Is No Room for Apprehension

Organizations seeking AI-literate workers are often looking for candidates who are unafraid to use AI tools and have sufficient experience with them to ensure they can experiment comfortably. Candidates who are averse to using AI tools, or those who haven’t tried them at all, are unlikely to be able to keep up with their colleagues who utilize the technology to perform their work.

Bosses want AI-literate workers who can promptly list the many use cases of the technology in their line of work. Narrating examples of how the candidate has used the tech before is reassuring to recruiters, and a portfolio section to depict this work often acts as a confidence booster in the applicant’s abilities. 

Candidates who want to take advantage of the AI literacy requirement in job descriptions need to familiarize themselves with the top tools being utilized by others in the industry and show a deep understanding of how these tools differ from each other. Of course, there are some niche roles where AI use will soon be the defining factor of the work, especially when the management of digital AI employees is concerned, but in these cases as well, familiarity and confidence lead the way.

Training AI-Literate Workers Is Easier Than Seeking Them

AI literacy doesn’t have to mean an understanding of building these support systems, but instead a confident approach to operating them with ease. Bosses seeking AI-literate candidates can see better returns from providing skill training to aid employees in performing their jobs better, rather than relying on the job market to furnish such candidates. 

Due to the lack of uncertainty about what “AI literate” means, many employees are unsure of how to market themselves to fit this requirement. This causes them to hesitate to apply for jobs that mention AI literacy in the job description. Many who do feel confident about AI may not have the degree of familiarity with these tools that employers are expecting to see. Such differences of concept lead to frustrations on both sides.

As things stand, these considerations make it far more effective to hire workers who are perfectly qualified to do their jobs, and then provide them with AI training to improve their performance as needed. Closing the AI literacy gap is an employer and HR responsibility, giving employees a uniform, up-to-date understanding of what the organization needs and how they can live up to expectations. 

The rise of the AI literacy requirement in job descriptions is causing much uncertainty on both sides, and as a result, greater clarity is needed on what employers are looking for. Subscribe to The HR Digest for more insights on workplace trends, layoffs, and what to expect with the advent of AI.