From concerns to confidence: The workforce's response to artificial intelligence

AI is transforming industries and economies at an unprecedented pace, driving innovation while reshaping business operations. As AI takes center stage in technological advancement, it presents immense opportunities alongside significant challenges. Organizations and policymakers face critical questions: What are the risks and rewards of AI adoption? How will AI redefine the workplace, and what regulatory frameworks are necessary to address its complexities? In this rapidly evolving landscape, businesses must rise to the challenge or risk obsolescence.

AI adoption is accelerating at a breathtaking pace. Compared to last year’s edition of the AI Barometer, our survey reveals a notable rise in user numbers and an increasing demand for workforce training and education. A growing share of workers are taking their future into their own hands and actively pursuing AI training—yet the continuing education offerings from employers often do not keep pace. Furthermore, there is a heightened awareness of the tangible ethical challenges posed by various AI technologies—from large language models (LLMs) and deep learning (DL) to computer vision and generative AI (GenAI).

On the shop floor, AI is raising the bar for operational excellence. By leveraging AI-supported systems, businesses can achieve time savings, lower costs, and reduce error rates, enhancing service delivery and product quality. This not only results in higher productivity but also improves customer experience. However, alongside these opportunities come significant challenges. Consequently, public discourse is becoming increasingly nuanced, moving beyond speculative debates about the future and sharpening the focus on pressing issues surrounding privacy, data use, and potential biases in AI models. With growing public awareness of the need for smart oversight, governments and organizations are under increasing pressure to develop guidelines and regulations that ensure the responsible use of AI. Upcoming and recent initiatives aim to address risks without restricting the opportunities to harness the benefits of AI.

Over the past 12 months, the proportion of respondents in Belgium who report using ChatGPT, DeepL, and similar tools has risen from 71 to 79 percent, reflecting widespread use, with almost four in five respondents having engaged with or actively used Artificial Intelligence. One in seven respondents indicate they use AI tools in the workplace, while a third reports using AI exclusively outside of work. There are no significant differences between genders or between management and non-executive employees.

Consistent with the increased uptake, attitudes toward AI are generally more positive than a year ago. In total, 68 percent of respondents in Belgium express a positive attitude toward the technology, marking an increase of four percentage points compared to the previous year (2024: 64%). Moreover, 29 percent of this year’s respondents from Belgium characterize their attitude as “very positive”. An analysis by gender, pay grade, sector, and region reveals interesting nuances. Fewer women respondents in our survey felt positive about AI compared to men (62% vs. 74%). A comparison by rank shows an even more pronounced difference, with 84 percent of management reporting a positive attitude, compared to 56 percent of non-executive employees—a gap of 28 percentage points, significantly above the European average of 19 percentage points. As expected, younger generations are significantly more positive than their older colleagues, who tend to be more skeptical about new tech trends both in the workplace and in their personal lives. These findings suggest that business leaders need to do more to convince their teams, particularly older and female employees, of the benefits of AI.

To stay abreast of new developments, more than half of respondents (59%) are pursuing education in AI, either professionally (20%), both privately and professionally (19%), or just privately (26%). Conversely, over four in ten respondents (41%) are not furthering their education in AI. Among women, the rate is more than one in two (53%), while the share is significantly lower among men (29%). Among non-executive employees (52%), the proportion of those not pursuing further education is significantly higher than in management (25%).

However, overall, the share of those furthering their education has increased significantly compared to the previous year — by 14 percentage points. Despite the notable increase in engagement with AI training, organizations need to make greater efforts to offer training and include older employees. Going forward, skills in the use and calibration of AI tools will be critical elements of lifelong learning. Without targeted initiatives, society risks leaving a valuable segment of the workforce behind. Part of the challenge lies in organizations formalizing their efforts and communicating them more effectively, as uncertainty remains high, with a notable share of respondents (10%) indicating they simply don’t know enough about available opportunities. Although the figure is relatively low at 31 percent, Belgian respondents are nonetheless the most satisfied with the AI training offerings provided by their employers compared to their European counterparts.

The future of AI technology holds immense promise, with advancements unfolding across a wide variety of sectors and new geographies entering the fray. From breakthroughs in natural language processing to innovations in computer vision and generative AI, the potential applications are vast. However, navigating this rapidly evolving landscape requires foresight and strategic planning. At EY, we believe that there is no one-size-fits-all model when it comes to AI.

Drawing on the rich experience we have gained working closely with our clients across the full spectrum of industries and a wide variety of use cases, we are convinced that it is possible to create immense value by taking a holistic approach to AI and augmenting human potential to drive extraordinary outcomes. With a human-centered approach to AI, we help refine technology to maximize talent, driving efficiency and productivity gains across business functions. Our teams of world-leading multidisciplinary professionals spanning risk, strategy, technology, and transformation work hand in hand with clients to assist them in an implementation process that aligns with their purpose, culture, values, and key stakeholders, ensuring that AI drives positive human impact.

Leading organizations are already making significant strides in AI-driven operational excellence, propelled by AI literacy initiatives, business process innovation, and refined monitoring and management systems. These trailblazers demonstrate how mindful AI integration can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and resilience. Are you also ready to harness the incredible possibilities of AI in a way that is right for your organization or employer?

You can find even more facts and insights on the topic of AI and how employees in Europe across numerous industries perceive this new technology in the current EY report “EY European AI Barometer 2025.”