AI has rapidly become part of everyday work for Canadian employees, but training and business results have not kept pace. According to Leger’s new AI Index, 68% of employees now use AI in their day-to-day work, yet 61% have received no AI training at work.

Meanwhile, 46% of organizations using AI report no measurable gains, and just 3% report meaningful business gains tied to revenue or ROI.

Based on a survey of 3,031 workers and 1,050 AI decision-makers, the business component of Leger’s AI Index examines how employees and organizations are adapting to AI, including how the technology is being used, skill levels, critical judgement, organizational governance and its impact on work and business performance.

While 68% of employees use AI in their day-to-day work, two-thirds still limit themselves to three types of uses or fewer. Only 27% consider themselves highly skilled at using AI effectively at work, and just 34% say they can correct or improve a disappointing AI-generated result.

Yet most employees are navigating this new technology with little formal support as only 17% of organizations using AI say they provide structured support.

Employees’ needs are highly practical: AI fundamentals and best practices, privacy and sensitive data protection, and use cases directly integrated into their day-to-day work.

Among organizations using AI, 46% report no measurable gains,while 21% report only marginal gains and 30% report operational gains. Just 3% report meaningful business gains tied to revenue or ROI.

A lack of measured impact does not necessarily mean AI is creating no value. Rather, the findings point to the challenge organizations face in identifying the right use cases, deploying them at scale and connecting results to business metrics.

The next challenge is connecting AI usage to changes in processes, operational outcomes and, ultimately, business value.

Nearly one in two employees sometimes uses an unapproved or unofficial AI tool to complete a work-related task.

At the same time, 72% say it is difficult to access their organization’s official tools, and nearly one-third feel they are progressing faster than their organization is.

Only 21% of organizations track employees’ use of AI tools,. leaving many with limited visibility into how the technology is actually being used in their workplaces.

These findings suggest that “shadow AI”is not always an attempt to circumvent company rules. Employees may turn to unofficial tools because they perceive them as faster, simpler or better suited to the task at hand.

Nearly four in ten employees have regretted relying on an incorrect AI-generated response in an important work context.

Nearly three in ten also acknowledge that they sometimes use an AI-generated response without verifying it, usually to save time. In addition, 17% say they may rely on AI in high-stakes situations, such as a client deliverable, an HR or legal matter, or a significant decision.

The most dangerous AI error is not necessarily the one that looks absurd. It is the one that seems plausible, is well written and is accepted without sufficient verification.

The Leger AI Index brings different dimensions together to measure AI maturity among Canadian consumers, employees and organizations. It takes into account AI adoption and use, skills, critical judgement, governance of AI practices and outcomes achieved.  

On a scale of 0 to 100, the general population scores 42, compared with a score of 37 for employees and 21 for businesses. 

AI maturity also varies considerably across workplace functions. IT, data and AI teams score 56, followed by human resources at 54 and marketing and communications at 52. 

These results highlight a central finding of the study: while AI adoption has advanced rapidly, the skills, governance and organizational capabilities needed to use it effectively have not advanced at the same pace. 

The Leger AI Index is a major Canadian study based on a proprietary Leger model that measures AI maturity across several dimensions, including adoption and usage, skills, user judgement, organizational governance, and the impact of AI on work and business performance.

The Index also provides organizations with a benchmark to assess their own AI maturity, compare their progress with relevant industries and competitors, and identify priorities for an AI roadmap aligned with their business objectives.

In short, the AI Index allows you to assess your employees’ AI maturity and your AI capabilities using clear metrics and benchmarks. It highlights gaps and priority actions to accelerate your transformation.