Enterprise Learning Shifts as Employees Demand Real-World AI Training
Employees are reshaping how companies build skills in an AI-driven workplace, demanding learning experiences embedded directly into their daily work rather than traditional classroom-style training.
Skillsoft reported a 146% year-over-year increase in usage of CAISY, its AI-powered conversation-based learning tool, with simulation experiences growing 341% during the same period. The company analyzed aggregate user activity across its Percipio platform from December 2024 through December 2025.
The data reflects a fundamental change in how workers approach skill development. As AI becomes routine in most jobs, employees want practice-based learning that lets them rehearse real situations, get immediate feedback, and build confidence before applying skills on the job.
The Skills Gap Threatens AI ROI
Organizations plan to invest $2.5 trillion in AI initiatives in 2026, but much of that spending will fail to deliver returns without a workforce equipped to use the technology effectively.
Bernard Barbour, Chief Technology and Product Officer at Skillsoft, said the challenge is balancing employee autonomy with organizational control. "Employees are pulling learning into the flow of their work as AI becomes embedded in daily tasks, rather than waiting for one-size-fits-all training," he said. "The risk is that unmanaged learning can lead to inconsistency and poor execution."
Without systems to build and apply skills in real time, execution slows and organizations lose value from their AI investments.
Practice-Based Learning Gains Ground
The shift away from static video training reflects how work itself has changed. Traditional long-form content doesn't match the pace at which employees need to acquire new capabilities.
IDC Research Director Gina Smith said the trend shows organizations moving toward learning that happens in context. "By using AI-supported, practice-based experiences across a range of skill areas, organizations help employees build and apply skills in real work contexts, rather than separating learning from day-to-day execution," she said.
For education leaders, this signals the need to rethink how training programs are designed and delivered. AI for Education frameworks increasingly emphasize personalization and real-time application, while AI Productivity Courses focus on integrating learning into existing workflows rather than treating it as a separate activity.
Skillsoft serves 60% of the Fortune 1000 and supports more than 105 million learners globally.
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