AI adoption is growing but is confidence keeping pace?

Artificial intelligence remains one of the biggest challenges facing learning and development teams.

Yet while enthusiasm is high, our latest survey suggests there is no single picture of AI adoption across organisations.

We asked learning and development leaders in life sciences how they are approaching AI, including where they see the biggest opportunities and what support they need as adoption develops.

The responses point to organisations moving in broadly the same direction, but at very different speeds.

AI adoption is gathering pace

Some organisations are still exploring what AI could mean for their business, while others have begun using it more widely. Most described practical use of AI, but not one that is fully embedded across the organisation.

Around 40% of respondents said AI is already being used across teams.

Examples of how AI is currently being used included:

Improving response times and personalisation in customer interactions
Reducing repetitive manual work
Developing training content and coaching resources
Improving onboarding and access to company resources
Simplifying data and spotting trends earlier to support decision making

Many respondents also highlighted meaningful adoption over the next 12 months, with a focus on helping commercial and medical teams use AI as part of their day to day workflows.

Confidence is still developing

Although AI adoption is increasing, confidence is still catching up.

When asked how confident they felt about using AI effectively, respondents gave an average score of 5.6 out of 10.

Security and data privacy, together with the accuracy of AI outputs, were the most frequently identified concerns. Compliance and regulation also featured strongly, alongside capability gaps and employee adoption.

The findings suggest organisations are balancing the opportunities AI presents with the practical considerations of introducing it responsibly.

Organisations want practical support

The survey also explored what support organisations would find most valuable. The responses point towards a need for practical learning rather than general awareness.

Role specific AI learning was the most common request, alongside support to develop a clear AI strategy and roadmap. Respondents also wanted to understand how other pharmaceutical organisations are using AI and where it can support people development.

Overall, the responses suggest organisations are looking for guidance that matches how far along they are with AI and how they use it in their day to day work

Different teams, different needs

Perhaps the most interesting finding is that there was no single story.

Some organisations are focused on building knowledge and confidence. Others are working towards wider adoption and embedding AI into everyday workflows. That variation may also exist within organisations, where different teams are likely to have different levels of experience and confidence.

For learning and development leaders, this presents an important challenge. If people are starting from different places, they are unlikely to benefit from exactly the same support.

The survey suggests that understanding current levels of confidence and adoption is a critical first step in deciding what comes next.

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