More and more AI in Flemish companies, our knowledge needs to keep up
While AI easily finds its way into Flemish companies, some companies are lagging behind and Flanders is struggling with a huge learning problem among professionals. VAIA, as part of the Flanders AI Policy Plan, ensures that all professionals are up to date, not only large companies, but society in its entirety.
AI grows, but our knowledge lags behind
Flanders leads the way in AI use, with 32% of companies using AI, compared to 8% in Europe. Yet there are big differences:
- Large companies embrace AI massively (69.6%), but SMEs move much more slowly (23.1%).
- 55.9% of companies using AI measured a competitive advantage.
- In 96% of companies, employment remained stable. So, jobs do not disappear overnight, although some roles will change profoundly.
The real pain point? More than half of companies (53.2%) do not plan on using AI. Often, this is due to a lack of understanding: they don’t see what AI can do for them. And what you don't understand, you don’t want to use. As such, innovation remains stalled.
“ Just as many over-60s now struggle with digital skills, professionals who do not retrain in AI now risk being trapped in the job market within a decade. ”
Who needs to learn about AI?
So, who needs this AI knowledge? The answer is simple: everyone in the company. In most companies, innovation is driven by either competition, legislation or the company’s own employees. And of the three, the impetus from one’s own employees is by far the least painful route. Moreover, AI touches all aspects of a company. So, everyone should be able to participate.
According to the AI Act, everyone needs AI knowledge, but for some professional roles that knowledge needs to go deeper. It’s important that you thoroughly scan your AI systems and provide AI ambassadors and ‘human supervisors’ with a solid foundation.
‘Shadow AI’: employees experimenting without policy
When companies ignore AI, employees take matters into their own hands. They use tools such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek Chat or Stable Diffusion without their employer’s knowledge. This phenomenon, called shadow AI, carries risks:
- Privacy: Sensitive business information ends up on commercial platforms.
- Copyright: inadvertent copyright infringement
- Reliability: AI gives a calculated probability, not an ‘absolute truth’. Blindly following AI systems inevitably leads to wrong decisions.
The problem is not that employees want to use AI – that’s a positive thing. But without AI literacy and clear policies, mistakes will be made because, like all technologies, AI has pros and cons.
Flanders: knowledge area with a learning problem
Despite our knowledge-based economy, Flanders scores below the European average in lifelong learning. Moreover, says Sarah Vansteenkiste, Director Steunpunt Werk: ‘40.7% of all adults in Flanders do not participate in training and do not want to because they do not see a need for learning’. The risks cannot be underestimated: just as many over-60s are now struggling with digital skills, professionals will be stuck in the labour market in ten years’ time if they do not learn about AI. They will also be at greater risk of digital fraud and miss out on the benefits AI offers to people with work disabilities, greater efficiency, more pay, etc.
“ 40.7% of all adults in Flanders do not participate in training and do not wish to because they do not see a need for learning. ”
Flanders AI Policy Plan
Through the Flanders AI Policy Plan and VAIA, the Flemish Government supports in-service training of professionals on AI, not only for IT professionals or managers, but for all professionals – in large companies, SMEs, schools and healthcare. At VAIA we ensure that all professionals are up to date, not only large companies, but society in its entirety.
AI is changing the rules. The question is: will you stand by, or will you play along?
Referenties
- Statbel (2024) ICT Gebruik en E-commerce bij ondernemingen 2024
- Standaert T., Lecocq C., Andries P., Evens T. (2024) AI-Barometer: adoptie en gebruik van Artificiële Intelligentie bij Vlaamse bedrijven - situatie 2023. Departement Economie, Wetenschap en Innovatie
- Geraert, F., Debroey, R., Hannon, E., Vansteenkiste, S., & Boey, R. (2024). Monitoringsrapport 2024: Individuele opleidingsdeelname en de opleidingsinspanningen van werkgevers in Vlaanderen. Brussel/Leuven: Departement Werk en Sociale Economie/Steunpunt Werk
- Regional Innovation Scoreboard 2023
Looking to integrate AI into your company or SME?
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Isabelle Borremans
Isabelle is not an AI expert, but she has been communicating about AI (and AI training) for VAIA for four years. So, she knows exactly how to communicate effectively about AI training. Feel free to contact her with any questions on how to promote your AI course. She’ll gladly challenge you with questions like:
- Who is your target audience? Can you be more specific?
- What networks reach that audience?
- Where does your audience prefer to take courses?
- What AI skills does your audience need?
- Does your training match their needs?
Besides communication, Isabelle also works on VAIA’s strategy: Who is our audience? How can we reach them? How can we spark their interest in AI?
Related courses
Machine learning and deep learning fundamentals
Workshop - Leuven - VIB, Training geselecteerd in de Belgische AI Factory Antenna (AIFA)
