So here we are. Companies everywhere are tossing AI tools into the workplace like they’re candy, and now employees are basically saying, “uh… what do we do with this?”
A new survey from Express Employment Professionals, done with The Harris Poll, spells it out pretty clearly. About 83 percent of job seekers say companies should actually train employees on how to use AI instead of expecting folks to just figure it out. Even hiring managers are on the same page, with 86 percent saying training should be a priority. When both sides agree like that, it’s usually because something isn’t working.
Meanwhile, AI adoption is moving fast. Nearly 79 percent of companies are already using it, and 43 percent say it’s part of regular operations. That’s a big jump from just a couple years ago. For a lot of workers, this isn’t some future concept anymore. Sixty two percent say AI is already in their workplace, and 22 percent say it’s part of their everyday workflow.
But here’s the part that feels half baked. Companies are putting rules in place without actually giving people direction. About 78 percent say they have policies around AI use, but only 36 percent provide a list of approved tools. Then you’ve got 38 percent basically saying use whatever you want, and another chunk doing some mix of both. That’s not guidance. That’s chaos with a policy attached to it.
What’s interesting is that employees aren’t pushing back on AI itself. Not at all. Around 75 percent think it can help them build skills, and just as many say they’re willing to learn more. So the problem isn’t resistance. It’s the lack of support.
Hiring managers even seem to know what needs to happen. They’re talking about hands on training, teaching skills AI can’t replace, and bringing AI into internships and apprenticeships. That all sounds pretty reasonable. The issue is actually following through.
If you ask me, a lot of companies are treating AI like a box to check. Roll it out, mention it in a meeting, maybe throw together a policy, and call it a day. But AI changes how work actually happens. It’s not like installing a new email client.
Without training, people are just guessing. Some will use it wrong. Some won’t use it at all. And some will rely on it in ways that probably shouldn’t happen.
At the end of the day, the tools aren’t the problem. The rollout is. And until companies start taking training seriously, all this AI hype might not translate into anything all that useful.
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