AI is becoming an increasingly common part of the workplace. From research and writing to data analysis, brainstorming and automation, employees are already using AI to support their day-to-day work.
According to Skillsoft®’s 2026 Workforce Preparedness Report, around 9 in 10 workers now use AI at work, with 86% of individual contributors and 93% of managers using generative AI tools.
The question is no longer whether organisations will adopt AI. It is whether their people are prepared to use it effectively and responsibly.
AI adoption is moving faster than AI preparedness.
While AI use is widespread, there is a clear gap between adoption and workforce preparedness.
The report found that 77% of managers believe their organisation has set them up for success in learning AI skills. Among individual contributors, that figure falls to just 60%. Only 24% of individual contributors strongly agree that they are set up for success.
This suggests that, for many employees, AI is already part of the workflow, but the guidance and skills needed to use it effectively have not necessarily kept pace.
Training is another area where organisations have room to improve. Although 76% of individual contributors and 90% of managers say their employers offer some form of formal training, only 16% of individual contributors and 23% of managers receive training before new AI tools are introduced.
If employees are expected to use new technology from day one, learning should not come afterwards. It needs to be part of the rollout.
Governance needs to keep pace with adoption.
There is also a clear need for stronger AI governance.
Despite around 90% of workers using AI, only about 1 in 10 respondents say their organisation has comprehensive AI governance in place. For many employees, guidance is informal and varies between teams or managers, while 21% of individual contributors and 14% of managers say they have no guidance at all.
This creates challenges around how AI is used, how outputs are checked and how organisations manage the risks associated with the technology.
AI can certainly help employees work more efficiently, but using it effectively requires more than simply providing access to a tool. Employees need to understand when AI should be used, how to assess its outputs and where human judgement remains essential.
Building an Artificial Intelligence-ready workforce.
For organisations looking to get more value from AI, the focus needs to shift from adoption alone to workforce preparedness.
This means making skills more visible, providing practical and job-relevant training, establishing clear AI governance and equipping managers to support their teams.
The report found that customised training aligned to employees’ jobs was the most preferred form of learning, highlighting the importance of relevant, practical development rather than generic AI training.
AI adoption is already well underway. The organisations that benefit most from it will be those that recognise that technology alone is not enough. The people using AI need the skills, confidence and guidance to use it effectively.
The goal should not simply be to adopt AI, but to ensure the workforce is ready to make the most of it.