The maxim “the only constant in life is change” may have originated with an ancient Greek philosopher, but according to Andrew Hudgens, it’s still relevant.
“The phrase has never been more true than it is today with AI,” said Hudgens, the corporate vice president of AI, products and software finance at Motorola Solutions. Hudgens is also the program business sponsor of the AI Operations Council, the company’s cross-functional task force responsible for developing and driving AI enterprise strategy. “An effective organization knows how to learn continuously.”
What Does Motorola Solutions Do?
Motorola Solutions builds and connects safety and security technologies to help protect people, property and places. The company’s solutions foster the collaboration that’s critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer hospitals, safer businesses, and ultimately, safer nations.
While nearly every tech company is encouraging its employees to explore AI, few have done what Motorola Solutions has. The company recently gave employees a dedicated day to learn and explore its 60+ AI tools.
Called “You & AI Day,” the April 9 event encouraged all employees, regardless of role, to explore AI through curated, hands-on sessions, all led by employee volunteers who raised their hands to share their knowledge. The goal was to unlock new efficiencies, boost productivity, foster innovation and promote responsible AI practices globally.
What Is “You & AI Day?”
“You & AI Day” is a companywide learning event at Motorola Solutions designed to help employees build practical AI skills. Ideated by the Young Professionals Group, hosted by the AI Operations Council and driven by various teams across the company, the event offered more than 140 sessions to all 23,000 employees across time zones, skill levels and business functions, with hands-on workshops, role-specific learning and access to more than 60 AI tools.
“Our employees are not just adopting AI, they’re reshaping how work happens today,” Hudgens said. “That’s translating into faster execution, stronger collaboration and ultimately, better outcomes for our customers.”
How a Grassroots Idea Became a Global Event
The initial concept for a dedicated learning day came from the Young Professionals Group (YPG), an employee resource group that recognized the need for practical AI training.
Stella Moore, strategic initiatives and business operations manager and current YPG co-president, and Rachel Quint, communications manager and former YPG co-president, started by introducing self-paced modules to employees; they soon found that participation dropped off when people got busy.
“You & AI Day” By the Numbers
- 23,000 employees
- 140-plus sessions
- 60 AI tools
- 150 volunteers
- 20%+ spike in Gemini usage
“We realized that while employees recognized AI’s importance, they lacked the bandwidth to learn amidst daily responsibilities,” Moore said.
Their dream was to give employees a dedicated day, inspired by two other successful Motorola Solutions traditions: the Global Open Innovation Hackathon, an annual two-day event where employees worldwide collaborate to develop new technology, and “5K & Take the Day,” a mental health and wellness event where employees are encouraged to trade their office chair for open air, followed by a paid day off.
“We recognized a powerful truth: When we give employees the time and permission to pursue their passion and potential, they seize the opportunity,” Quint said.
“The naming of ‘You & AI Day’ was very purposeful,” Moore said. “We wanted to move away from the fear that AI replaces jobs and instead emphasize that employees are more powerful when assisted by AI. Our goal was for everyone to take personal responsibility for their learning curve.”
That’s why the tagline for the event was “turn someday into today.”
What Employees Experienced During “You & AI Day” at Motorola Solutions
To bring this visionary idea to a global scale, the AI Operations Council drove the massive collaborative effort, with strong support from the YPG and numerous teams across IT, engineering, education, marketing and communications.
According to Suma Rebbapragada, AI portfolio lead and “You & AI Day” project manager, the daylong AI-focused event at Motorola Solutions was more than just informative. It was practical.
This was by design.
“We focused heavily on the user experience,” Rebbapragada said. Instead of passive lectures, a hands-on requirement meant many sessions dedicated at least 25 percent of their time to active workshopping.
Rebbapragada worked in lockstep with the various teams to build the technical infrastructure, including an intranet page and custom-built curriculum application, which allowed employees to engage with more than 140 sessions — all broken up by time zone, business function and skill level.
The day opened with a leadership kickoff, followed by morning sessions on AI foundations, responsibility and security. In the afternoon, employees participated in hands-on workshops and functional tracks tailored to roles like Sales, Finance and Engineering.
The result? An ambitious undertaking that moved Motorola Solutions beyond theoretical discussion into practical, companywide application, Rebbapragada said.
“I was moved by the level of enthusiasm and interest I saw from every corner of the company,” Rebbapragada said, noting that over 150 employees volunteered to help create the event. “We have this collaborative culture where people want to share their knowledge and lift each other up. ”
After “You & AI Day,” employees received curated session recordings, inclusive of presentation slides, exercises and other relevant resources, designed to help participants navigate their AI journey long after the event.
“This investment is driven by the understanding that AI is no longer optional; it’s a critical skill required to stay at the forefront of innovation,” she said. “By prioritizing this time, our leadership demonstrated that we are a company that matches its mission with action, equipping every employee with the necessary tools to succeed in an AI-driven future of work.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Motorola Solutions’ “You & AI Day”?
“You & AI Day” is a companywide learning event at Motorola Solutions designed to help employees build practical AI skills. It offered more than 140 sessions to about 23,000 employees across time zones, skill levels and business functions, with hands-on workshops, role-specific learning and access to more than 60 AI tools.
Why did Motorola Solutions create a dedicated AI learning day?
Motorola Solutions created a dedicated AI learning day because employees recognized AI’s importance but often lacked the time and bandwidth to learn it alongside daily responsibilities. The event was designed to give employees dedicated time and permission to build AI fluency, unlock efficiencies, boost productivity, foster innovation and promote responsible AI practices.
