The AI Training Gap: Why 78% Use AI But Only 24% Have Training
AI has become ubiquitous in UK workplaces. According to recent research, 78% of business leaders agree that AI adoption is essential to stay competitive. Yet here's the uncomfortable truth: only 24% of employees have received any formal AI training.
This training gap isn't just a skills issue - it's a change management crisis.
The Real Cost of the Training Gap
When organizations roll out AI tools without proper training, several predictable problems emerge:
• Productivity doesn't improve because people don't know how to use the tools effectively
• Resistance grows as employees feel threatened rather than empowered
• Leadership becomes frustrated when ROI doesn't materialize
• The AI initiative stalls or fails entirely
Most organizations treat AI rollouts like software deployments - buy the licenses, send the announcement, maybe run some training. Then they're surprised when adoption stalls, productivity doesn't budge, and leadership starts asking uncomfortable questions about ROI.
Why Traditional Training Isn't Enough
Running a few training sessions won't solve this. The challenge isn't just teaching people which buttons to press. It's addressing:
• Fear that AI will make their role redundant
• Uncertainty about which tasks should be AI-assisted vs human-led
• Lack of clear processes for integrating AI into daily workflows
• Managers who don't know how to coach teams using AI tools
Change Management: The Missing Piece
This is fundamentally a change management challenge. Successful AI adoption requires:
Structured Readiness Assessment - Understanding where your organization actually is, not where you hope it is
Skills Gap Analysis - Identifying specific capability gaps across different roles and teams
Change Champions - Developing internal advocates who can demonstrate value and support peers
Continuous Support - Ongoing coaching and adjustment, not one-off training events
Making AI Adoption Work
The organizations succeeding with AI adoption aren't just buying better tools - they're investing in structured change management that addresses the human side of the transformation.
At The Human Co., we help organizations across the UK bridge the AI training gap through targeted change management that turns AI anxiety into AI capability. Our approach addresses both the technical skills and the cultural shift needed for sustainable AI adoption.
Ready to close your organization's AI training gap? Book a discovery call to discuss your specific challenges and how we can help.
