What employees want as GenAI rises in Canada
More Canadian employees are using generative artificial intelligence at work, but many say their organizations are falling short on training and guidance, according to new research from KPMG in Canada.
The firm’s third annual generative AI adoption index shows usage has climbed to 51 per cent, up from 46 per cent in 2024 and 22 per cent in 2023. Nearly three-quarters of those users rely on AI tools daily or several times a week. Despite this growth, the pace of adoption slowed in 2025 compared to the previous year, which KPMG attributes to growing pains as companies move from experimentation to integration.
“Employees were using AI in their personal lives and were often ahead of their companies to begin with, but now, employers are catching up and need to engage their workforce more broadly to drive adoption,” said Megan Jones, a partner in KPMG’s people and change practice.
She further stressed the need for tailored training, clear policies and upskilling opportunities to help employees feel confident using AI.
Survey results showed strong demand for education: 83 per cent of respondents say they want or need to learn how to use generative AI tools more effectively, and 46 per cent worry about job loss if they cannot keep up.
Yet only 48 per cent find their employer’s training helpful. Many employees report feeling overwhelmed, with 36 per cent saying they received training but have not started using AI because they are too busy, and 37 per cent saying they stopped using it after initial attempts.
Concerns about accuracy also weigh heavily. More than half (58 per cent) are extremely or very concerned about hallucinations in AI responses, and nearly half say this fear prevents them from using the tools at work.
Despite these challenges, 79 per cent of employees say generative AI has improved their productivity, and more than half are using the time saved for higher-value tasks. Research and idea generation are the most common applications, followed by summarizing public information.
Davin Gnanapragasam, KPMG’s chief technology officer and tax partner, said organizations must prioritize personalized training and comprehensive policies.
“AI success isn’t about being the most tech-savvy, it’s about being the most adaptable,” he said. “Training should empower employees to understand how to strategically apply AI to their day, so it frees up time for more value-added work.”
The survey also found that 49 per cent of employees believe AI use should be mandatory across Canadian organizations, yet 40 per cent do not know what controls are in place and only 29 per cent report their employer has a comprehensive policy.
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