Organizations Face Gaps in Formal AI Training Programs

A recent Harvey Nash Tech Talent Salary Report surveyed over 3,600 global technology professionals regarding AI access and education. [1]

The survey found that three-quarters of IT staff currently have access to AI tools. [1] However, one in five technologists are expected to teach themselves how to use these tools, and 23 percent are waiting for formal training programs. [1]

Michael Cole, the chief technology officer at the DP World Tour, states that AI training must be an organization-wide effort. [1]

Cole asked human resources training coordinators to assist in delivering a program for both the IT team and the broader business. [1] He emphasizes that effectively using AI requires a focus on process, mindset, and culture rather than just learning the technology. [1]

The gap between AI access and formal training indicates that organizations are deploying tools faster than they are equipping employees to use them effectively. With nearly a quarter of tech professionals waiting for instruction and a fifth left to self-teach, companies risk uneven adoption and missed value-generation opportunities. The shift from isolated IT initiatives to comprehensive, HR-supported cultural programs—as demonstrated by the DP World Tour—highlights that AI implementation is fundamentally a change management challenge rather than a purely technical deployment. What the sources don't address: How organizations measure the return on investment for formal AI training programs versus self-guided learning approaches.