How AI-driven i-la provides ‘instant coaching’ – Daily Business

A coaching company is using artificial intelligence to resolve one of the weaknesses in the training process – the failure to apply the lessons learned in formal workshops.

Black Isle Group (BIG) has launched i-la (pronounced Islay), an AI-powered coach, who is on-hand to provide instant reminders and further guidance on what the participant has learned.

Former BBC executive Atholl Duncan, who chairs BIG, says: “Companies spend massive sums on training and our view is that a lot is wasted because the learning is not embedded.

“The participants just go back to their work and don’t apply it as they get too busy with their day job.”

He says i-la may help someone before they head into a crucial meeting by outlining some key points from the training session.

Having the opportunity to work with a ‘personal’ AI assistant also helps those who lack confidence to ask questions in formal settings.

“There are a lot of introverted people in the workplace who will see some advantage in this form of training,” he says.

The company has programmed i.la with all the details from the coaching courses and was launched in beta form at the beginning of the year to 800 participants at three big companies.

“It is early days but we find mostly younger people have taken to it as they see it as another tool in the technology set.”

Mr Duncan believes the adoption of this technology will be rapid as it helps feed employees and executives with quick advice and solutions and speeds up decision-making.

“It will flip when companies realise how much time this is going to save them,” he says, adding that one AI tool estimates it cuts out as much as eight hours a week in wasted time.

“When you get into time and cost saving, all of a sudden it moves from the something nice to have to something which is a game-changer.”