As employee fears about AI job displacement persist, but organizations largely lag when it comes to helping their workforces develop AI skills, it appears that many employees are taking matters into their own hands.
A new survey of 1,000 U.S. workers by Adobe for Business found that 54% are learning to use agentic AI by trial and error—followed by about 36% who say they’ve gone to YouTube for help. Other top means for building skills include watching peers and consulting Reddit.
About one-third have received formal training at work.
“Most workers figure it out as they go rather than rely on formal training,” researchers write.
See also: AI works better when HR helps lead it, new research finds
AI upskilling that meets employees where they are
While workers may be picking up AI skills without formal training, there remains a chasm between awareness and actual application. For instance, of those who have undergone actual AI training, less than half have gone on to build their own agent.
“Formal agentic AI training exists, but it’s rarely where fluency begins,” according to the Adobe study. “For most professionals, learning to work with AI is still a self-directed process—shaped by curiosity, peer collaboration and a willingness to experiment.”
Sara Chapman, CHRO of infrastructure engineering services provider Ulteig, recently told HR Executive that dedicated AI upskilling is core to the organization’s AI transformation project.
“How are we making sure that, as we evolve the tools we have, we’re providing the learning opportunities for employees to engage in those tools?” she says.
As tools roll out, employees should be encouraged to practice, engage and iterate, Chapman notes. Understand where employees are in terms of their AI skills and then use that clarity to guide upskilling.
“It can’t just be ‘Let’s grab some cool tools for the sake of having cool tools,’ ” she says. “Let’s be really thoughtful about what do our clients need, what do our employees need and then let’s meet them where that is.”
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