AI is everywhere at work… but training is not.
Eighty-nine percent of employees now use AI on the job, even as most lack formal training to do so, according to new research from Study.com. The findings suggest that AI has become common at work, but training hasn’t kept pace.
The survey of 1,000 employed workers across industries shows AI has become a routine part of daily work, driven largely by self-teaching rather than structured programs. That gap between widespread use and limited training sets up a growing challenge for organizations as AI becomes embedded in everyday workflows.
From quick tasks to core work
AI is showing up far more often than as a one-off productivity aid. In the survey, 41% of employees said they use AI daily or multiple times a day, while another 33% reported using it several times a week, indicating frequent, repeated use across the workweek.
That usage cuts across both tech and non-tech roles, with workers relying on AI for tasks such as research and data analysis, writing emails and documents, creating presentations, and coding. The range of use points to AI becoming a regular part of day-to-day work.
Limited guidance
Although AI has become routine in daily work, many employees are still using it with little formal support.
The survey found that 46% of workers learned to use AI through self-teaching and trial and error, while only about 33% of employees received employer-provided AI training. These numbers paint a picture of how widely the technology is being used without structured instruction.
In addition, nearly one in four respondents said their employer provides no AI-related support, such as training, mentorship, or approved tools.
In a statement to eWeek, Study.com CEO Ádrian Ridner tied the findings to long-term workforce preparation. “With only 33% of employees reporting access to employer-provided AI training, integrating AI skill development into degree pathways is essential to prepare the workforce of the future.”
Productivity meets uncertainty
AI is delivering clear productivity gains for many workers, according to the study. Seventy-four percent of respondents said AI makes their jobs easier. Confidence around output is also strong, with 68% saying they feel moderately or very confident using AI to complete everyday tasks.
However, that confidence drops when rules and boundaries come into play, as 35% said they are very confident using AI within company policies. Some respondents cited uncertainty about what is allowed, with about 20% saying they feel cautious using AI because they are unsure of the rules.
Ready is the new requirement
With employer-provided AI training still limited, responsibility for learning is moving earlier in the workforce pipeline. The survey shows 54% of workers are primarily motivated to build AI skills to perform better in their current roles, making job performance the strongest driver behind AI learning.
At the same time, many workers say developing those skills is not easy. Forty-one percent cited lack of time as a barrier to learning AI, while 33% pointed to fear of making mistakes. Others reported limited access to AI tools or technology, the cost of training, and a lack of employer support, underscoring how difficult it can be to build AI skills once on the job.
Universities are beginning to formalize AI training, with Boston University School of Law preparing a new certificate focused on legal practice.