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AI isn’t just for tech professionals — it can help people across industries work more efficiently.
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It’s best suited for routine tasks like summarizing information, organizing data and creating first drafts.
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AI should support, not replace, human judgment, creativity and expertise.
Software engineers and coders may already be incorporating AI tools into their day-to-day work, but they’re not the only ones who can benefit from learning how to use AI. Professionals in a range of non-technical roles may find that these tools can ethically and appropriately assist with tasks both large and small.
The question is no longer simply whether you should learn to use AI. It’s how to determine when these tools can support your work — and when they shouldn’t be used.
Here’s what to know about using AI tools and why AI literacy is becoming increasingly relevant across fields such as marketing, human resources, education, healthcare and law.
Do You Need to Work in Tech to Learn AI Tools?
No, you don’t need to work in tech for AI tools to be relevant to your job. In fact, learning how to incorporate AI into daily workflows may be especially valuable for professionals outside of technical fields.
“AI is arguably more important outside of tech. The biggest gains I see are in nontechnical work: marketing, HR, legal, operations, education, healthcare admin,” said Leonardo Lawrence, a data science expert and professor in the USC Bovard College Master of Science in Applied Analytics (MSAA) online program. “The mistake is thinking ‘AI’ means learning to code. For most professionals, it’s about getting comfortable with a few general assistants and the AI features already showing up in email, docs, and CRM. The learning curve is closer to learning a new app than learning a new language.”
Why Are AI Tools Useful for People Outside of Tech?
Depending on your field, AI tools can simplify certain processes and allow you to devote more time and energy to your most important responsibilities.
Professionals across a wide range of industries are already turning to AI for assistance, according to Jose Luis Rodriguez Goldstein, a finance and analytics executive and professor in the MSAA program.
“I certainly don’t think AI is just for technical people. I know physicians, including neurosurgeons, who are using AI in some way,” he explained. “For example, healthcare has a lot of legacy databases and legacy data, and it can be very tedious. I’ve seen people use AI to simplify those processes and help them answer questions a little bit quicker.”
This is at the heart of how AI can be useful in the workplace. Doctors and other healthcare professionals still need extensive knowledge and expertise to perform their jobs. However, if an approved AI tool can help them navigate a database more efficiently, they may be able to spend less time on a tedious process and more time on the most consequential parts of their work.
The same principle can apply to tasks such as refining a PowerPoint presentation, reviewing data, summarizing transcripts, organizing a calendar or developing a pitch. AI assistants can help professionals get started or work more efficiently. The goal is not to have AI perform an entire job, but to use it as a tool that supports the work.
That’s why learning how and when to use AI is so important. You don’t necessarily need to know how to code or build an AI system. Instead, start by learning which AI tools are approved by your employer and already available through your workplace software. Is AI integrated into your email, document or customer relationship management platforms? Are you permitted to use tools such as Microsoft Copilot or Claude? From there, consider which tasks these tools could help streamline.
An equally important part of AI literacy is knowing when not to use it. AI-generated information can be inaccurate and should be carefully reviewed and verified. Using AI may also violate laws, professional standards or workplace policies in certain situations, particularly when sensitive or confidential information is involved. While AI can be useful, some responsibilities require human expertise, discretion and accountability.
What AI Tasks Should You Hand Off, and Which Should You Keep?
Workplace policies may clearly identify situations in which AI cannot be used, but it may be less obvious when the technology could be helpful. In general, AI is best suited to routine, repetitive tasks that can be easily reviewed by a person.
“The real skill is knowing which tasks to hand off and which to keep. Using AI should not mean outsourcing your judgment. Stay the expert directing the tool. Letting AI do your thinking can make you worse; using it to clear busywork and focus on harder problems can make you better,” advised Lawrence.
Depending on your workplace’s policies, AI may be helpful for:
- Summarizing information from documents
- Producing first drafts of pitches and proposals
- Turning research into visual presentations
- Organizing and analyzing datasets
- Proofreading written work
- Assisting with online research
Human involvement remains essential when generating original ideas, communicating with colleagues, interpreting company policies, verifying information and making decisions that require expertise, empathy or judgment. AI can support those responsibilities, but it should not replace the person accountable for the final result.
How Can You Start Learning AI Without Taking a Course?
Many people feel daunted by AI or don’t yet realize how it could help them in their work. But you don’t necessarily need to take a course or conduct extensive research to begin building your AI skills. You can start by using an approved tool and experimenting with it on a low-risk task.
“Pick one tedious recurring task and spend two weeks doing it with an AI assistant; you’ll learn more than you would from any course,” said Lawrence.
As you experiment, pay attention not only to what the tool can do, but also to where it falls short. Review its output carefully, verify any factual claims and refine your instructions to see how the results change. This hands-on practice can help you better understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI.
The Bottom Line
AI tools can be valuable for employees across industries, even if they don’t work in tech. The key is understanding when these tools can improve a process and when they should not be used.
AI is often most effective when applied to tedious or repetitive tasks, freeing professionals to focus on more complex responsibilities. But the most important parts of your work should still be guided by your own creativity, judgment and expertise. After all, that’s why you were hired in the first place.
Learn more about the online MS in Applied Analytics (MSAA) program today.