Most Workers Use AI Daily But Few Get Formal Training

More than half of workers now use artificial intelligence tools regularly in their jobs, yet only one in three has received employer-provided AI training in the past six months, according to research published by The Conference Board.

The gap signals a potential vulnerability as AI reshapes workplace tasks and roles. The study, based on a survey of nearly 1,300 workers, found that 55% report regular AI use — but the training they do receive focuses heavily on foundational skills like AI literacy and basic prompting techniques.

Training lags behind actual use cases

What's missing from most corporate AI training programs are advanced capabilities that research suggests matter most for performance. The Conference Board notes that skills such as managing AI agents — systems that can perform complex, multi-step tasks — rarely appear in employer curricula, even though other studies have demonstrated that workers who can effectively direct AI agents outperform those limited to simple prompting.

The research, first reported by ESG Dive, also surfaced a resource constraint: workers said they lack sufficient time and support to build AI skills on their own. Leaders interviewed for the study acknowledged that meaningful AI training requires dedicated time, hands-on practice, and active managerial involvement.

Why it matters

Organizations that delay investment in advanced AI capabilities risk falling behind when disruption accelerates. As AI agents and autonomous systems become standard workplace tools, companies without a workforce trained to manage them will struggle to adapt. The gap between current training offerings and emerging skill requirements suggests many employers are preparing workers for today's AI landscape rather than tomorrow's.

Managers emerge as critical leverage point

The Conference Board findings align with recent research identifying managers as a key intervention point. A separate study from Indeed and YouGov found that managers feel underequipped to lead AI-fluent teams, while Gallup research indicated that managers play an outsized role in employee engagement around AI adoption.

"Many organizations have made progress introducing employees to AI, but AI literacy alone will not create business value," said Matt Rosenbaum, principal researcher of human capital at The Conference Board. "The organizations that benefit most from AI will be those that help employees apply AI effectively in their work, continuously develop new capabilities, and adapt as technology and business needs evolve."

The research suggests that companies may need to shift from broad-based awareness training to targeted, high-impact programs that focus on managers and workers in roles where advanced AI capabilities can drive measurable outcomes.

These findings were originally reported by ESG Dive based on The Conference Board's research published in August 2026.