Workplace AI adoption lags despite growing gamiliarity

Despite the great promise, the rapid pace of new AI tools being developed, and the fact that artificial intelligence has become an integral part of both public and technological discourse, in practice, the use of AI in the workplace remains limited. Two new studies reveal that most employees still do not use AI tools at work, and very few employers provide support or training to help staff adopt the technology.

A new survey by AllJobs shows that only 30% of employers in Israel use AI tools, and just 11% offer organized training for employees, figures that put Israel far behind leading countries for workplace adoption, such as India, Spain, the UK, and the US.

According to the survey, which polled about 500 employees nationwide, workplace use of AI has risen since last year (from 21% to 30%), but the pace remains slow, especially when it comes to meaningful use. When AI tools are used, 94% of respondents said they saw improved productivity. However, the vast majority of employees teach themselves through trial and error or by reading online, not through formal training provided by their employers.

A similar gap appears in a recent global study by BCG, which surveyed over 10,000 employees in 11 countries. According to the report, only 36% of employees worldwide say they have received sufficient training to use AI, and 37% say they have no access to relevant tools at all.

BCG’s data also shows that the depth and quality of training directly affect adoption rates. Among employees who received more than five hours of training, 79% became regular AI users, compared to just 18% of those who received no training. In-person training makes a difference too, boosting the share of users from 70% to 84%.

In Israel, only 11% of employers provide sufficient AI training, according to the AllJobs survey. Half of respondents said they learn independently by experimenting, 25% read articles, blogs, or other materials, 18% take courses or workshops, and 35% said they do nothing to expand their knowledge.

Globally, BCG found an average workplace AI adoption rate of 72%. In Israel, it’s just 30% at work, but adoption among the general population has jumped to 65%, up from 47% in a previous survey. Israelis mainly use AI for everyday advice: about a third consult on relationships, 46% on health, 44% on financial topics, 34% on careers, and 31% for mental health or emotional support.

“We are witnessing a profound change in awareness and behavior. Israeli workers are not only familiar with AI tools, but are weaving them into their daily personal and professional lives. Artificial intelligence is no longer intimidating, but an everyday tool. However, although companies see its potential to boost productivity, adoption remains partial. The data shows organizations are missing a major opportunity to streamline operations,” said Liat Ben Tora-Shushan, Head of Career Development at AllJobs.

Organizations’ failure to adopt AI tools and train staff is costing them money. Of employees who use AI at work, 94% report improved productivity: 68% say productivity increased significantly, 26% saw partial improvement, and only 6% said AI had no impact at all.

BCG’s findings are similar: 55% of employees at companies that redesign work processes with AI say they save more than an hour daily thanks to these tools.

One striking finding from the BCG report is the gap between managers and employees. While 85% of managers use AI, only 51% of employees do. AllJobs found a similar pattern in Israel: most AI use is still personal (54%) while only 9% say they use AI exclusively for work.

Management support is critical. According to BCG, 82% of employees who received direct guidance and training from their managers now use AI regularly, compared to just 41% of those without such support. Job security fears also rise without managerial backing: 41% of global respondents fear their jobs will vanish within a decade, a figure that climbs to 46% among employees whose companies heavily rely on AI to redesign processes.

“The shift from basic AI adoption to real business impact requires a fundamental rethink of how people and machines work together. Organizations must not underestimate the value of training, it cannot be left to employees alone. They need to commit resources, time, and consistent managerial support, and track the impact of AI through metrics like productivity, work quality, and employee satisfaction. It’s also smart to run controlled pilots with AI agents to speed up the learning curve, measure the impact, and monitor risks,” says Asaf Eliakim, CEO of BCG Israel.

Despite the promise of AI agents, only 13% of companies have fully integrated them into workflows, BCG found. More than half say AI agents are still in pilot stages, and 31% haven’t started at all.

Many employees also admit they don’t fully understand AI agents. Two-thirds say they see their potential and expect them to become important, but they don’t yet grasp what they really are.