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17 June
Leadership, Technology
Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t coming—it’s already here. From customer service bots to document drafting assistants, AI in the workplace is changing how work gets done. But while the tools are advancing quickly, the bigger shift is happening in how people lead and support teams. No one expects today’s leaders to be tech experts, but they are expected to help their teams navigate change with clarity and confidence.
This blog explores what’s already changing, where AI is showing up in day-to-day work, and what steps leaders can take to stay ahead of the curve. You’ll also get a practical tool to assess your team’s AI readiness and learn how to strengthen the human skills that keep people—not just technology—at the center of progress.
AI isn’t new—it’s been evolving in business since the 1950s, from early expert systems in the 1980s to today’s generative tools like ChatGPT and Copilot. What is new, however, is how pervasive and accessible AI has become. A 2025 report from Stanford’s Human‑Centered AI Institute shows that 78% of organizations were using AI in at least one business function by 2024—a sharp increase from 55% just a year earlier.
For leaders, this matters deeply. AI isn’t just about automating tasks—it’s reshaping how work gets organized, decisions are made, and skills are valued. As AI takes on more repetitive work, qualities like strategic thinking, empathy, ethical judgment, and creative problem-solving grow even more essential. Choosing to ignore AI doesn’t make it go away. But when leaders engage thoughtfully, they can guide their teams toward smarter, more human-centered work—and unlock greater productivity and innovation in the process.
AI is no longer confined to big tech or specialized departments. It’s woven into everyday tools and workflows, often without most people realizing it. Email filters that sort by priority, predictive text in messages, calendar scheduling assistants, and even basic chatbot support are all powered by forms of artificial intelligence.
It helps to understand the difference between automation and AI, which are often mentioned together:
Here’s how the most common AI categories break down:
These technologies aren’t just helpful—they’re becoming essential for saving time, navigating complexity, and supporting better decisions. The challenge isn’t whether to use them, but how to use them well. That starts with awareness and intentionality.
Even without a formal rollout or policy, there’s a strong chance your team is already using AI in the workplace in small, everyday ways. A 2023 survey by Fishbowl found that 30% of professionals had used AI tools like ChatGPT at work—often without discussing it with their manager. DigitalSilk cites that in 2025, 42% of millennials in the U.S. said they’ve used ChatGPT for work. Those aren’t signs of rule breaking. They’re signs of initiative. Many employees are finding ways to work more efficiently by experimenting with what’s available.
Here are a few examples of how AI use might already be happening:
Most of these actions happen under the radar—not because employees are hiding them, but because the tools feel informal or supplemental. Still, this quiet adoption creates an opportunity. When left unaddressed, it can lead to inconsistent results, over-reliance, or ethical blind spots. But when supported with clear guidance, it can become a foundation for smarter, more empowered work.
AI use on your team doesn’t need to be formalized to be influential. In fact, informal use is often where the most innovation—and the most confusion—begins. That’s why one of the most important things a leader can do is create clarity around how these tools should be used.
Here are a few ways to guide responsible adoption:
Leading the adoption of AI doesn’t mean you have to know everything about it first. You just need to be willing to learn in public, set direction, and make space for thoughtful progress. When leaders set that tone, teams are far more likely to use AI in ways that are both creative and responsible.
AI isn’t just for technical teams or IT departments. Many of the tools available today are simple, accessible, and immediately useful—even for leaders focused on strategy, communication, and team development. The key is to look for opportunities where AI can remove friction and free up time for higher-value work.
Here are a few practical ways to incorporate AI into your workflow.
Drafting communication. Use generative AI to draft internal emails, team updates, or meeting recaps. It can give you a strong starting point that you fine-tune in your voice.
Jumpstarting new ideas. When you’re stuck or starting from scratch—whether it’s outlining a presentation, shaping a project plan, or brainstorming questions for a client meeting—use AI to help generate a first round of ideas to work from.
Summarizing content. AI tools can quickly distill long reports, articles, or meeting notes into digestible highlights, helping you stay informed without drowning in information.
Simplifying complex topics. AI can help explain unfamiliar concepts or draft talking points for topics outside your comfort zone, giving you a running start when time is short.
Analyzing team input. Some leaders use AI to group or summarize open-ended survey comments or performance feedback—making patterns easier to spot.
Share with your team how you’re leveraging AI in the workplace. Doing so not only demonstrates buy-in but also builds trust and encourages others to explore responsibly. It signals that learning is part of the culture and that the goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress.
Even with growing interest in AI, many leaders face understandable hesitation. The rapid pace of change, unfamiliar tools, and swirling headlines can lead to uncertainty—or even quiet resistance. The good news is, these challenges are normal. And they’re solvable with the right mindset and support.
Following are common circumstances that prevent leaders and teams from embracing AI.
Support makes a big difference. With the right resources and attitude, leaders can turn uncertainty into action.
As AI becomes more capable, it’s easy to assume that everything can—or eventually will—be automated. But that’s not the reality. In fact, the rise of AI is making distinctly human skills more important than ever.
AI can process vast amounts of data, generate content, and complete tasks at scale. What it can’t do is lead with empathy, navigate complex relationships, or make values-based decisions in ambiguous situations. It also can’t generate original thought. Generative AI pulls from existing knowledge to repackage and recombine ideas—it doesn’t imagine, intuit, or innovate on its own. That’s where people shine.
Skills that remain uniquely human include:
These aren’t just “soft skills”—they’re business-critical that differentiate effective leaders (and workers) in an AI-enabled workplace.
Not every team is starting from the same place. Some are already experimenting with AI tools, while others are hesitant or unsure where to begin. As a leader, it’s helpful to understand where your team stands—so you can support them more effectively and identify opportunities for growth.
Our downloadable AI Readiness Guide for Leaders contains an audit section to help you assess:
You can use it to reflect on your current state, spark a team discussion, or start planning for targeted upskilling. The goal is to create clarity and direction.
Over the next few years, AI will augment or automate more tasks, especially repetitive, rule-based, or data-heavy ones. But this doesn’t mean mass replacement. Instead, it means almost every role will shift in some way.
AI isn’t replacing people—it’s redefining the work people do. The leaders who prepare their teams now will be best positioned to succeed in the years ahead.
AI in the workplace is changing how work gets done, how teams collaborate, and what leadership looks like. But you don’t need to be a tech expert to lead well in this new landscape. You just need to stay curious, be intentional, and make learning a priority.
Talk to your team. Share what you’re doing. Ask how they’re using AI. And most of all, keep building the uniquely human capabilities that make technology more effective—not less necessary.
If you’re ready to upskill your team on AI, or soft skills to complement it, TopTalent Learning can help. Our LMS includes over 48,000 courses designed to help your workforce grow with confidence. We can also develop a learning program customized for your team and their specific needs through our managed learning services.
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Use this guide to assess your team's current AI use and opportunities, clarify what it should be used for, and get tips on how to communicate with your team about AI.