BTS 2026 AI pulse survey
Read the original BTS research from nearly 400 leaders on AI adoption, workforce readiness, training gaps, and governance.
June 25, 2026

How are people really experiencing AI at work?
- How are leaders navigating it?
- What are companies prioritizing?
- How do things feel on the frontlines of change?
To find out, BTS surveyed 388 professionals across industries, geographies, and role levels to understand what's happening on the ground as AI becomes part of everyday work.
Inside the report
- Where organizations are seeing AI deliver the greatest impact
- The people challenges slowing AI adoption
- The top priorities organizations are focusing on over the next 12 months
A few findings that stood out
- Only 7% of organizations describe themselves as fully AI-native
- 47% say a lack of skills or confidence is the biggest barrier to AI adoption
- Nearly 1 in 3 respondents reported using unapproved tools AI at least sometimes
- Leaders encourage AI experimentation more than they model it
Download complete whitepaper
Authors
No items found.
Related content
.png)
Pyramid, kite, or house
AI is removing the work that once built expertise. See how the kite and the house shape your talent pipeline, and why the choice shouldn't be left to default.

The 6 challenges of top executives
Two decades working with senior leaders across four continents reveal the six patterns now defining what it takes to lead at the top.

Applied AI field guide 004: Toughest leadership moments, AI innovation
Applied AI field guide 004 from BTS: 11 crises AI leaders face, from job insecurity to runaway token costs, with the mindset to hold and the moves for each one.
Related content
.png)
Pyramid, kite, or house
AI is removing the work that once built expertise. See how the kite and the house shape your talent pipeline, and why the choice shouldn't be left to default.

The 6 challenges of top executives
Two decades working with senior leaders across four continents reveal the six patterns now defining what it takes to lead at the top.

The EQ blind spot: What senior leaders get wrong about executive presence
BTS research on thousands of leaders reveals that while expertise builds credibility, emotional intelligence drives real executive presence and results.
No items found.
AI adoption survey 2026, state of AI adoption in the workplace, AI adoption statistics, AI skills gap, shadow AI statistics, AI training gap, AI adoption barriers, enterprise AI adoption report, AI native organizations, workforce AI readiness, HR's role in AI adoption, leadership AI enthusiasm gap, AI upskilling statistics, AI adoption by industry, unapproved AI tools at work, AI adoption business impact, agentic AI adoption, AI governance and policy gaps, AI change management, chief learning officer AI strategy