Jessica O'ConnorArtificial intelligence (AI) is now embedded in day-to-day work for 92% of UK tech professionals, but many say employer-led training is failing to keep pace, according to research from La Fosse.
While 87% of tech employees reported that their organisation offers some form of AI guidance, only 58% have received formal training, with many describing it as too basic for their needs.
Demand is shifting away from foundational knowledge towards more advanced, role-specific skills.
Only 23% of workers said they need AI fundamentals training, while areas such as cybersecurity and data privacy (39%), data analysis and visualisation (34%), and data quality and integrity (34%) are now the most in-demand.
Claudia Cohen, director of the La Fosse Academy, said: “What we’re seeing is that AI is no longer sitting alongside roles, it’s actively reshaping them.
“The expectation of what ‘good’ looks like in a role is changing faster than most training programmes can keep up.”
The research suggested that insufficient training is already creating business risks.
Only 37% of tech workers said they always verify AI outputs before using them, while 67% said they have seen AI-related mistakes within their organisation.
Among C-suite leaders, nearly a third (29%) reported serious business impact from such errors.
Cohen added: “Right now, most organisations have AI usage without AI capability. People are using the tools, but not in a way that fundamentally improves how work gets done and that’s where both the risk and the missed opportunity sit.
The data also revealed a disparity in training access, with those using AI most frequently often receiving the least support.
Entry-level and intermediate employees were significantly less likely to have had formal training compared to senior leaders.
Cohen continued: “For someone in legal, it could mean reviewing and stress-testing policies at scale.
For someone in learning and development, it could mean designing and tailoring training programmes in a fraction of the time.
“For someone in operations, it could mean improving decision-making through better use of data. The gap is understanding how to apply AI effectively within a role.
“To tackle this education gap, employers need to enrol training that reflects real tasks, real decisions, and real risks within their organisation. This should become part of how people work, not something they dip in and out of – and must be specific to each role within the business.”
Cohen concluded: “Right now, employees are asking for more relevant, practical training, while employers are still catching up.
“Closing that gap will be key to whether businesses can use AI with confidence, reduce risk, and turn early adoption into long-term value.
“We’re also seeing this through how we train our associates, particularly with the use of agentic AI tools.
“These tools are enabling junior individuals to deliver outputs that would previously have required years of experience, accelerating capability in a way we haven’t seen before.
“But, that doesn’t remove the need for fundamentals – it actually makes them more important. AI can accelerate experience, but it can’t replace judgement. Without that balance, organisations risk moving faster, but in the wrong direction.”
