Trustrorthy AI
Knowledge Base

Power Users

Power Users are pivotal in the successful adoption and scaling of AI technologies within organizations. They are typically advanced users who leverage AI tools beyond their standard functionality, often discovering new use cases and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. By acting as early adopters, Power Users not only validate the utility of AI tools but also drive their evolution by providing critical feedback. They represent a bridge between the general user base and technical teams, translating complex AI functionalities into practical, everyday applications.

We’ve included this dimension as a part of the Workloads pillar because these power users should be enabled to (a) evangelize and promote the use of AI workloads amongst their colleagues and teams, and (b) develop AI workloads - particularly Extensible AI workloads themselves using tools like Copilot Studio.

To further bridge that gap, it is important we introduce yet another concept: Communities of Practice (CoPs).

Communities of Practice (CoPs) are vital in embedding AI into the organizational culture. These communities bring together individuals across various roles and departments to share knowledge, best practices, and insights about AI tools like Microsoft Copilot. CoPs facilitate continuous learning, enabling members to stay current with AI advancements and to collaboratively solve challenges related to AI adoption. By fostering a culture of open dialogue and experimentation, CoPs help organizations navigate the complexities of AI, making its deployment more strategic and effective.

Organizations must provide access to the right tools, training and resources that enable Power Users and the CoPs they lead. In other words, investing in them and setting them up for success by establishing a robust support framework that covers everything from understanding data security within AI contexts, getting skilled up with a selection of copilots and, or course learning the art of prompt engineering.

It sounds like a lot, and that’s because it is, so to maximize the impact, and avoid potential chaos, organizations should:

Establish clear roles: Define roles and responsibilities for specific Power Users and CoPs to clearly define their focus within AI initiatives. Examples include testing new features, providing feedback or mentoring other users.

Facilitate engagement: It’s important to encourage active participation in CoPs through regular meetups, workshops and collaborative platforms that support knowledge sharing and problem solving.

Support continuous learning: Offer ongoing training, access to AI tools and resources and give them the opportunity to apply their skills to projects or proofs of concept, keeping Power Users at the forefront of AI innovation.

Be strategic about the impact of Power Users and CoPs: Harness their capabilities and use them to ease user adoption and reduce resistance to change, ensuring AI adoption is aligned with business objectives (record the benefits of using AI in said objectives and track their progress).