Businesses
90% of Businesses Are Not Fully Training Staff on AI
02 Sept 2026
New analysis of UK data suggests AI adoption is moving faster than employee training, creating risks around productivity, trust and the quality of AI-generated work.
Businesses are adopting artificial intelligence faster than they are training people to use it well.
New analysis from brand marketing agency GROFU, based on Office for National Statistics data, suggests that 90% of businesses are not fully training their workforce on AI, even though 55% of workers are already using the technology. One in five of those workers is reportedly using AI tools without employer approval.
For employers, that creates a growing business education problem. AI is becoming part of everyday work, but many employees are learning through trial and error rather than through structured training, clear policies or shared standards.
Patrick McFadden, Managing Director at GROFU, argues that this gap helps explain why so much low-quality AI-generated content is appearing online.
What is evident is that a large amount of the ‘slop’ we find on our screens is down to people not knowing how to use AI effectively and efficiently,” he said.
AI Adoption Is Outpacing Workplace Training
The figures reveal a clear mismatch between usage and preparedness.
While more than half of workers are already using AI, only 35% of businesses officially use it. At the same time, around 20% of workers are using AI tools that their employer has not sanctioned.
That can create problems for both productivity and governance.
Employees may use AI for writing, research, customer service, analysis or content creation without knowing how to check outputs, protect confidential data or identify hallucinations. They may also duplicate tools across teams or adopt platforms that have never been reviewed by IT, procurement or legal departments.
The result is not necessarily more effective work. In some cases, it can simply mean more AI-generated output without the skills needed to judge its quality.
The Quality Problem Is Becoming Visible
GROFU links the training gap to the rise of low-quality AI content, particularly across social media.
The release points to a study suggesting that two-thirds of posts on LinkedIn are being flagged as AI-generated, while LinkedIn has introduced reporting options for content users believe resembles “AI slop.”
For businesses, this matters because content quality is directly tied to reputation.
AI can accelerate copywriting, design and marketing workflows, but poor use can make brands sound generic, repetitive or unreliable. The more organisations rely on generative tools without training employees in editing, verification and tone, the greater the risk that productivity gains are cancelled out by weaker output.
McFadden argues that AI should support human expertise rather than replace it.
AI should not be about removing human expertise, but about refining, enhancing and improving workflows so knowledge can be better utilised
Trust Is Falling as AI Use Expands
The training problem also sits alongside a wider trust issue.
According to the figures cited in the analysis, 81% of people say they can no longer easily tell real information from fake, while 27% do not believe AI will benefit them.
That matters for businesses because AI adoption depends partly on employee and customer confidence.
If staff do not understand how AI systems work, they may either trust them too much or reject them entirely. Both responses can be costly. Overconfidence can lead to mistakes, while fear can stop useful tools from being adopted.
The same applies to customers. If AI-generated communication feels unreliable or inauthentic, businesses risk weakening trust at the same time they are trying to improve efficiency.
Workers Fear Job Loss More Than the Data Suggests
The research also highlights a gap between perception and current evidence.
Around 49% of people aged 30 to 49 believe their job could be at risk from AI, while 47% of those aged 16 to 29 share the same concern. Yet only 7% of businesses report a fall in headcount after implementing AI.
That does not mean AI will have no impact on employment. However, it does suggest that fear is currently running ahead of what businesses are reporting.
Training could help reduce that gap.
When employees understand how AI fits into their role, they are more likely to see it as a tool for changing workflows rather than as an immediate replacement.
McFadden said better training can reduce fear and improve the quality of work at the same time.
If staff are properly trained to use the tools at their disposal, two things happen. The fear drops, because they can finally see where they fit. And the work gets better, because they're using AI to enhance what they do rather than replace it.
AI Literacy Is Becoming a Business Skill
The larger issue is that AI literacy is quickly becoming part of basic workplace education.
Employees increasingly need to understand how to write effective prompts, verify outputs, protect sensitive information and recognise when AI should not be used.
Managers also need different skills. They must decide which tools to approve, where human review remains essential and how to measure whether AI is actually improving performance.
For businesses, this means AI training cannot be limited to technical teams.
Marketing, HR, finance, sales, operations and leadership all need some level of practical AI education because adoption is already happening across those functions.
Businesses Need Training Before More Tools
Many organisations are currently focused on buying AI software. The more urgent question may be whether employees know how to use what they already have.
GROFU’s analysis suggests that the workplace AI problem is not simply a lack of technology. It is a lack of skills, governance and confidence around that technology.
The businesses that benefit most from AI may therefore not be the ones with the largest number of tools. They may be the ones that invest most effectively in teaching people when to use AI, how to challenge its outputs and where human judgement still matters.
About GROFU
GROFU is a brand creative and performance agency based in Stockport. Founded by Patrick McFadden in 2021, the agency works across sectors including construction and property, finance, technology, retail and food and beverage.
The analysis draws on Office for National Statistics research covering AI use in UK businesses from 2023 to 2026, alongside ONS public opinion data from June 2026.
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Sara Srifi
Sara is a Software Engineering and Business student with a passion for astronomy, cultural studies, and human-centered storytelling. She explores the quiet intersections between science, identity, and imagination, reflecting on how space, art, and society shape the way we understand ourselves and the world around us. Her writing draws on curiosity and lived experience to bridge disciplines and spark dialogue across cultures.
