USA 
United Kingdom
Companies that have poured significant investment into artificial intelligence platforms are persuading staff hesitant to use the tools by introducing cash incentives, points programs, and merchandise rewards to shift employee behavior.
Concerns about job security, limited time for training and a reluctance to share successful AI techniques have slowed uptake. As a result, leaders across sectors are trying new ways to encourage uptake and engagement, according to Bloomberg.
Law firm Shoosmiths became one of the latest employers to test the approach, creating a £1million ($1.3million) bonus fund tied to Microsoft Copilot activity.
About 1,300 employees will receive roughly £770 ($1,000) if the firm reaches 1 million Copilot uses this fiscal year.
Internal calculations suggested that the target would be met if staff used the tool four times a day. The firm had already delivered Copilot training sessions, circulated case studies and recruited influential employees to encourage colleagues to adopt the technology.
“That’s where the bonus came in,” said project leader Tony Randle.
Changing behaviors around AI use
Randle explained that the priority is establishing comfort and routine before expecting optimized use.
“Once we've changed people's behaviors to realize that AI is their go-to, it's not this dangerous thing sitting in the corner, then we can be far more discriminating” in how the technology is deployed. He added that the firm is on course to reach its Copilot target.
San Francisco-based fintech Brex has embraced a similar strategy, awarding more than 225 spot bonuses for AI-driven projects, from small automations to extensive workflow redesigns, according to Chief Operating Officer Camilla Matias Morais.
Payouts have ranged from $150 for modest improvements to several thousand dollars for high-impact initiatives. One of the largest rewards went to a group that rebuilt the onboarding process. Their work shifted the task from a days-long workflow requiring four employees to an activity completed in under five minutes.
Recognition and rewards fuel adoption
Other organizations are offering merchandise-based incentives.
IBM grants “BluePoints” to winners of its annual AI innovation contest, redeemable for electronics, appliances or concert tickets. Employees can also present their work at company events in Orlando and San Diego.
Pharma firm Sanofi award points for experimenting with AI.
“Recognition is the fuel of trust, and trust is what makes AI adoption possible and scalable,” said Raj Verma, Sanofi’s head of culture, inclusion and experience. He said rewarding people “who experiment and share what they learn” encourages staff to view AI as an opportunity.
Some leaders are considering even more ambitious ideas. Amanda Kahlow, founder and CEO of 1Mind, has issued spot bonuses for employees who identify automation possibilities and is weighing whether to offer forward-vesting equity to anyone who automates themselves out of a job.
“Then we’ll find another job for you,” she said. “I do like the idea.”
