Training provider Corndel released its 2025 Workplace Training Report, showing that one in three employees feel unprepared to adopt AI into their workplace practices in the next three years.
Representatives of Corndel also claim that 97% of HR leaders' organisations offer AI training, but only 39% of employees report having received that training.
A survey conducted by Microsoft, published yesterday (5 March), showed that half (54%) of businesses report that their company does not have an official AI strategy.
The Guardian reported Microsoft's UK chief executive, Darren Hardman, saying that UK businesses are “stuck in neutral” when it comes to their use of AI.
Read more: A third of HR professionals don’t have AI guidelines
Eyal Ben Cohen, CEO of background checks technology company, Verifile, agrees that companies have yet to take advantage of AI's potential.
He told HR magazine: “Many organisations appear to be mired in the experimentation phase rather than moving to full-scale AI deployment. For example, while a vast majority of HR leaders assert that their organisations provide AI training, only a small proportion of employees report having received any formal instruction.
“This disparity is evident across numerous HR functions, including in background screening, where innovative AI‐driven tools are being trialled.”
Cohen also suggested that the gap between leaders’ optimism and employees’ sense of unpreparedness stems from a disconnect between strategic vision and the practical day-to-day implementation.
He said: “While senior management may be buoyed by pilot projects or policy announcements, employees face the real challenges of integrating AI into their routines.
“Addressing this gap requires a sustained investment in role-specific, continuous training and establishing feedback channels that allow staff to share their experiences and concerns.”
Cohen also stated that HR leaders need to provide hand-on training that not only explains AI tools but clarifies their role in daily work tasks.
Read more: How to spot AI-generated text at work
Corndel’s research shows that almost half (48%) of senior leaders report that they have never used an AI tool. Only four in 10 employees believe they can adopt AI tools themselves.
Commenting on how HR can implement official AI guidelines, Emma Obanye, CEO of tech company OneTech, noted that AI is here to stay, especially within HR practices such as hiring.
Obanye previously told HR magazine: "AI adoption is outpacing regulation, which means that businesses need to proactively shape their own policies. When ChatGPT became popular, many corporations tried to bury their heads in the sand. But ignoring AI doesn’t make it disappear."