We’re excited to introduce a new module to the McKinsey.org Forward learning journey: Digital & AI Essentials. Developed by the McKinsey.org team in partnership with our global digital and AI experts at Quantum Black, the module will be available to all new learners joining Forward this year, as well as alumni who want to refresh their skills.
Forward has always focused on building the human skills that matter across roles and industries — like problem solving, communication, adaptability, and relationship building.
Adding a new module, especially one that dives into Generative AI and Agentic AI, wasn’t a decision we took lightly. We believed it was essential because digital and AI literacy is now a foundational workplace skill, not a niche technical skill. According to McKinsey’s report ‘Agents, Robots, and Us: Skill partnerships in the age of AI’ demand for AI fluency has grown sevenfold in the past two years, faster than for any other skill in U.S. job postings. This dramatic rise is visible across countries and industries and signals big shifts ahead for people’s careers.
How we designed the module
As we built the Digital & AI Essentials module, three ideas guided our approach.
- First, we focus on durable skills and mindsets. Given how rapidly the AI landscape is evolving, we focus on the essentials learners need to adapt and learn in this space, over time.
- Second, the program must be useful for learners with different levels of experience. Some participants are already building advanced AI solutions. Others use AI occasionally, have limited access, or are still building confidence.
- Third, the program needs to be informed by real-world experiences. To ensure Forward learners can put the learnings to use immediately, we ground our program content in both McKinsey research and experience working with clients.
Here’s a sneak peak of what the module includes.
1. It starts with mindsets, not tools
McKinsey research on human skills that will endure, shows that organizations create the most value when they invest in durable capabilities— like judgment, relationship-building, critical thinking and empathy — rather than tools alone.
That’s why the module begins with core mindsets: curiosity, adaptability, responsibility, and human-centered thinking. Learners reflect on how they engage with new technologies, evaluate outputs, and keep learning without feeling overloaded.
2. Learners explore use cases from different angles
The module includes a wide range of use cases from personal and professional life, across industries and functions, as well as “art of the possible” examples where Generative AI and Agentic AI combine with other technologies to completely transform processes and environments.
Learners also practice prompting and explore Generative AI’s limitations. They’re encouraged to think critically about bias, accuracy, privacy, and risk. They learn where AI works well, where it falls short, and where it can mislead.
3. It encourages continued learning and championing
The module closes by helping learners define their own technology learning journey based on their goals and context. For those excited, it offers practical tips on becoming a champion of responsible and impactful AI within their teams and communities.
In summary
At its core, the Forward Digital & AI Essentials module is about learning AI the human way. As learners begin exploring Generative and Agentic AI—or deepen the work they’re already doing—the module invites them to build with curiosity, responsibility, and confidence. Through this experience, and across the broader McKinsey.org Forward program, our goal is to strengthen the human capabilities that endure amid constant change: connection, judgment, creativity, and the confidence to keep learning as the future of work continues to evolve.