## Businesses Are Using More AI, But Workers Are Not Ready

Artificial intelligence is changing the business world very quickly, and companies are excited about what it can do. JPMorgan Chase, one of the biggest banks in the United States, said that artificial intelligence will help their business grow. However, Jamie Dimon, who runs JPMorgan, also said something important: AI might be moving too fast for society to keep up. He thinks JPMorgan will hire fewer people in five years, even though the company is growing around the world. Right now, JPMorgan has about 318,512 workers, but that number may go down because of AI.

## The Problem: Workers Don't Know How to Use AI

Here's a big problem: companies are using AI without teaching their workers how to use it. A study by a company called ManpowerGroup asked almost 14,000 workers around the world about AI. They found that while workers are using AI more (up by 13% in 2025), they trust it less (down by 18%). More than half of all workers (56%) said nobody taught them new skills to work with AI, even though their companies are using it every day. This means workers feel confused and worried.

## Older Workers Are Struggling the Most

The study also found that older workers are having the hardest time. Workers in their 60s and 70s (called baby boomers) lost 35% of their confidence in AI, while workers in their 50s and 60s (called Generation X) lost 25% of their confidence. These experienced workers feel left behind because nobody is helping them learn the new technology.

## Workers Are Staying in Their Jobs Out of Fear

Something surprising is happening: instead of looking for new jobs like many workers did after the COVID pandemic, most workers are staying in the same job because they're afraid AI will replace them. About 64% of workers are "job hugging" - meaning they stay in their current job even though they feel burned out and overworked. At the same time, about 63% of workers report feeling exhausted from stress and heavy workloads. Workers are also worried about AI affecting their job security - 53% of them think AI could hurt their jobs.

## Business Leaders Want Fast Change, But Need to Prepare

JPMorgan's CEO thinks the next big step is "agents" - special artificial intelligence programs that could change how banks do business. These AI agents could completely change how customers use the bank and what the bank does. However, Dimon also warned that if AI happens too fast, it could cause "civil unrest" - meaning people could become very angry and upset. He gave an example: if 2 million truck drivers in the United States suddenly lost their jobs to self-driving trucks, that would cause serious problems. For this reason, Dimon says companies and governments need to work together to help workers learn new skills and get money to support themselves while they change jobs.

## Training is Starting to Happen

Some good news: companies are starting to create AI training programs for their workers. Big companies like IBM and Accenture have created "AI academies" inside their companies to teach workers about the new technology. However, many companies still don't have these training programs. This training is very important because studies show that only 10% to 12% of companies are seeing real benefits from AI right now. Many companies (56%) say AI hasn't helped them at all.

## Business Leaders Need to Change How They Think About AI

In 2026, companies are moving from just "trying out" AI to really understanding where it works best. Leaders now need to ask important questions like: Where does AI really help? What human skills (like creativity and kindness) do we need to keep? How should jobs change? The biggest challenge is that companies have good information about money but not about people. To fix this, companies are starting to use data about workers - like how many skills they have, how happy they are, and how much work they do.

## Young Workers Are Most at Risk

Young workers, especially those just starting their careers, are being hurt the most by AI. Jobs that young people usually do first - like office work, customer service, and junior business jobs - are the most likely to be changed by AI. A study found that fewer young workers (ages 22-25) are getting these starting jobs compared to older workers. This is a problem because these jobs usually teach young people important skills they need for better jobs later. Without these starting jobs, young workers may have trouble making good money later in their lives.

## What Workers Want from Companies

Workers are not against AI - they just want their companies to tell them what's happening. A study found that 63% of workers think AI could make work easier and better. However, 43% think AI might make work harder at first. Workers want their leaders to explain: Which jobs will change? When will this happen? How will their work change? How many hours will they work? When company leaders don't talk about this, workers get scared and confused.