Every professional, every product owner and every industry are experimenting with Gen AI; yet I would not be surprised if my fellow Corporate Communications experts are the ones who are slower to adopt it than many other professions. Maybe I am wrong, and you have examples of innovative AI applications in Corporate Communications. I’d love to hear about them. I have a dream about AI and internal communications, and I’ll share it.
Native Internal Communications around the Globe
I have this use case on my mind for Gen AI in Internal Communications that I would love to see at work. I call it ‘Native to Native Corporate Communications’ which does not sound very sexy but does describe what I mean. Let me explain the concept and its value.
In large international companies, managing internal communications involves critical decisions like channels, formats and simply about language usage. European companies are particularly familiar with this challenge, while American companies often default to English. Although English is the standard in Western international companies, its status as a corporate language implies that many employees have to communicate all day in their second language. This affects communication effectiveness and, consequently, company success.
“Native-to-Native Corporate Communications: A system and mindset in Corporate Communications that enables everyone in the company to hear, interpret, and speak in their native language. “
The Challenge with English as the Corporate Language
I have academic evidence highlighting the challenges of non-native communication. Twenty-five years ago, my master’s thesis explored how well non-native English speakers understand corporate communications in English. The findings showed that comprehension was always behind that of native speakers, even among those very proficient in English. The loss of nuance is significant, in stark contrast to the meticulous crafting of messages by CEOs and Corporate Communications professionals, the reality is that non-native speakers frequently miss subtleties.
Keeping language simple with short words and sentences helps, something I once termed ‘Euro-English’. Even though I’ve worked in English-speaking environments for decades and would label myself as being at the top of the ‘non-native English speaker curve’, it is never 100 percent natural. I still experience a drop in comprehension, let alone in wit in a second language, a common experience of non-native speakers.
From Problem to Solution
The advent of AI-driven video translation and lip-sync technologies, like those offered by Rask and HeyGen, presents a revolutionary solution. Imagine seeing your leadership speak in your native language with perfect synchronization. This innovation could dramatically enhance internal communications, and workplace communication as a whole, making messages more relatable and comprehensible.
Now, let’s paint a picture of how this could transform the daily experience of employees in a global enterprise:
A Personalized Communication Platform
Imagine an online communication platform where you select your preferred language settings. This platform serves as your personalized hub for all company communications, tailored to your language preference. Here’s how it would work in practice:
- Live Translations of Leadership Address
- Imagine a town hall meeting, on important topics where the CEO speaks to everyone in his/her native language, and everyone hears it in theirs.
- This can be revolutionary as people speaking in their own language are more fluent, more at ease, are quicker in their preparation and, better at coming up with relevant examples, jokes and while speaking is easier, they are more natural in their body language which is 75% of what is being ‘communicated’.
- People listening in their mother tongue are more at ease and have more brainspace left for engagement and applying what has been said.
- Multilingual Online Librarie:
- Documents and Videos: All official documents, training materials, and company announcements are available in multiple languages. AI-powered translation ensures that these resources are not just accurately translated but also culturally relevant.
- Interactive Content: Video messages from executives and leadership and training videos come with real-time translated subtitles and lip-synced audio, allowing you to see and hear the message in your native language.
- Seamless Cross-Language Collaboration:
- Internal Communication Tools: Whether you’re using Yammer, Slack, or another internal communication tool, you can write posts in your preferred language. AI instantly translates these posts into the languages of your colleagues, facilitating seamless communication across language barriers.
- Meetings and Webinars: AI-powered real-time translation tools enable everyone to participate fully in meetings and webinars, regardless of their language. Presenters can even speak in their native language while attendees hear the translation in theirs, promoting inclusivity and understanding.
- Enhanced Understanding and Engagement:
- Personalized Alerts and Notifications: Important updates and alerts are delivered in your chosen language, ensuring that you never miss critical information.
- Feedback and Surveys: AI translates feedback and survey responses into a unified language for analysis, enabling the company to understand and act on the insights from a diverse workforce.
By implementing systems as such, companies can not only hire way better across the globe, leveling the playing field, as they ensure that their internal communications are not only more effective but also more inclusive. Employees will not only feel more connected and valued, knowing that their language and cultural backgrounds are respected and accommodated, they will also be able to play at the top of their ability.
The potential for Gen AI to revolutionize internal communications and therewith push company success, is immense. By adopting a Native-to-Native Corporate Communications approach, companies can break down language barriers, enhance understanding, and foster a more inclusive corporate culture. This vision is not just about leveraging technology for efficiency but about fundamentally transforming the workforce and how we communicate and connect within our global enterprises.
I’d love to hear about your experiences and any examples of AI-driven communication strategies that have impressed you.
