Fewer than half of U.S. employees consistently use new ways of working after receiving training, according to a recent survey by TalentLMS. The finding points to an adoption gap that could complicate how organizations introduce artificial intelligence into everyday work.
TalentLMS surveyed 1,500 employees expected to use AI at work. More than one-third said they sometimes return to older working methods. Overall, 73% said they combine old and new approaches, while 60% reported that their organizations prioritize achieving results over using a new method.
TalentLMS describes this behavior as “habit hugging,” referring to employees’ tendency to retain familiar processes during periods of rapid change. Other research indicates that organizations are also struggling to prepare workers for the new tools and processes associated with AI adoption.
A Randstad Digital report found that training programs have not kept pace with AI in many organizations. The company said employers may create new platforms faster than employees can learn to use them, and reported that one in four workers globally had left a job because of insufficient upskilling opportunities.
Management readiness is another factor. Only 3% of decision-makers surveyed by ManpowerGroup Talent Solutions said their leaders were highly prepared to lead AI adoption at work. Separately, half of the chief human resources officers participating in Gallup’s Global CHRO Roundtable said they lacked confidence in managers’ ability to guide employees in using AI.
The TalentLMS survey found a strong connection between manager behavior and employee adoption. New working methods were consistently adopted by 49% of employees whose managers also used them, compared with 22% of employees whose managers did not.
Dimitris Tsingos, CEO of TalentLMS parent company Epignosis, said AI’s potential lies in freeing human time and mental capacity for higher-value activities such as judgment, leadership and problem-solving. He added that realizing that potential requires making new working methods part of employees’ daily routines.
The findings also highlight the changing role of learning and development teams. AI is increasing the need for job- and employee-specific upskilling and reskilling, while creating opportunities for more immersive training. Alongside technical capabilities, L&D teams are also expected to develop human skills including emotional intelligence, communication and collaboration.
Sources: HR Dive.