Employees using artificial intelligence (AI) are saving the equivalent of a full working day every week, according to new research from the London School of Economics’ Inclusion Initiative (TII) and global consulting firm Protiviti.
The report, Bridging the Generational AI Gap: Unlocking Productivity for All Generations, surveyed nearly 3,000 workers and 240 executives across multiple industries worldwide. It found that professionals using AI save an average of 7.5 hours per week. That translates to approximately $18,000 (£14,000) in annual productivity gains per employee – the equivalent of one extra workday every week.
Despite these striking results, the study revealed that 68% of employees have received no AI training in the past 12 months. That means much of the potential productivity boost remains untapped.
CLOSING THE AI TRAINING GAP
“For business leaders, the priority is clear. Closing the AI training gap is one of the fastest ways to unlock measurable returns. Equipping employees with the right skills doesn’t just improve individual productivity, it sharpens decision-making, accelerates innovation and drives stronger overall performance,” stated Dr Grace Lordan, Founding Director of The Inclusion Initiative at LSE and lead author of the research. “In an environment where every efficiency counts, organisations that act now will set themselves apart from those still waiting on the sidelines.”
Contrary to the common assumption that AI adoption is driven by younger generations, the report found that training – not age – is the decisive factor in how effectively employees use AI. Key findings show that:
- 93% of employees who have received AI training use it in their daily work, compared with 57% among those without training.
- Trained employees are twice as productive, saving an average of 11 hours per week, compared with 5 hours for those untrained.
- A Gen X worker who has received AI training in the past year achieves greater productivity gains than an untrained Gen Z employee.
INCLUSIVE AI TEAMS DELIVER STRONGER RESULTS
The findings suggest that accessible AI training programmes can deliver measurable productivity improvements across all generations, challenging the perception that younger workers are naturally more adept with emerging technologies.
The research also found that generationally diverse teams outperform less diverse ones when it comes to AI-related work. In fact, 77% of employees in multigenerational AI project teams reported high productivity, compared with 66% in teams with low generational diversity.
ONGOING AI TRAINING
“Our findings show the importance of relevant, ongoing training in helping employees engage productively with AI. For older workers in particular, training is crucial to ensure their deep business experience shapes how these technologies are applied,” noted Dr Daniel Jolles, Research Officer in Behavioural Science at The Inclusion Initiative and co-author of the report. “Equipping employees of all generations to use AI effectively and creating diverse AI teams helps bridge age-based divides, fosters collaboration and drives stronger outcomes.”
The report’s authors and business leaders agree that AI should not be viewed merely as a new workplace tool, but as a transformative force that reshapes how organisations operate.
BRIDGING THE AI SKILLS GAP
“AI isn’t just another tool for the workplace.Iit’s a catalyst for rethinking how organisations lead and empower their people,” said Fran Maxwell, Global Leader of People & Change at Protiviti. “The biggest gains will come from embedding AI into everyday workflows, redesigning roles for higher-value work, and giving employees the confidence to experiment. Inclusive adoption across all generations doesn’t just boost productivity – it prepares companies for the next wave of change.”
Matt Duncan, Managing Director at Protiviti, added: “Protiviti’s 2025 Executive Perspectives on Top Risks survey revealed that AI and talent-related challenges –including access to skills and labour – rank among the top ten concerns for executives. This new research shows that investing in AI training across generations can deliver immediate productivity gains, strengthen employee commitment and help organisations mitigate long-term talent risks.”
The report concludes that organisations prioritising AI training and multigenerational inclusion will be better positioned to achieve sustainable productivity gains, innovation and resilience.
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