This chapter explores the trend of non-technical individuals becoming citizen developers and the advancements in technology that have made it easier for anyone to use AI tools. It discusses specific examples of individuals in non-technological roles utilizing these tools and highlights the benefits they bring to companies like Home Depot, Lego, and BMW.
New AI technology enables anyone to become a programmer — opening doors to faster analytics and automation but also presenting big challenges. Organizations need policies and strategies to manage the chaos created by what Tom Davenport calls “citizen developers.” Davenport is a professor of management and information technology at Babson College, and he’s been studying how employees are using new AI tools and how companies can both encourage and benefit from this work. He suggests practical ways for team and organizational leaders and IT departments to best oversee these efforts. Davenport is coauthor of the HBR article “We’re All Programmers Now” and the book All-in On AI: How Smart Companies Win Big with Artificial Intelligence.