Josh Bersin: Can AI-Based Learning Close the Skills Gap?

Research from the Josh Bersin company finds that 74% of organisations say they are not keeping up with their companies' demand for new skills – despite global corporate spending on learning and development exceeding US$400bn.

Josh Bersin, CEO of the Josh Bersin Company, suggests that this is due to many organisations’ learning models being “out of date”, saying: “Our skills challenge at work is not one of ‘learning’ or 'training’. 

“Rather it’s a problem of dynamically sharing information, enabling people to explore, question, and apply new ideas. The traditional pedagogical paradigm of “training” is holding us back.”

To combat this, the report recommends organisations invest in AI capabilities to dynamically share and generate content – reinventing the way businesses train and upskill their workforce. 

The rise of AI-based learning

Integrating AI into employees' learning and development is becoming a higher priority for many businesses, as AI capabilities grow. 

Despite the need for AI-proficient talent rising – with Randstad research finding that job advertisements looking for ‘AI Agent’ skills have risen by 1,587% – 2025 research from the UK Government finds that only 21% of UK employees feel confident using AI in their roles. 

Employers are preparing for this shift to AI, with 56% of leaders predicting their employees will need upskilling to adapt to new technologies, according to a report from IBM. 

Microsoft in particular has made significant changes to its company-wide learning model, announcing in January 2026 that it was closing its employees to focus on AI-based learning. 

An internal Microsoft FAQ seen by The Verge said this decision was made “as part of Microsoft’s move toward a more modern, connected learning experience through the Skilling Hub”.

This Skilling Hub was introduced in July 2025, and can personalise learning for individual Microsoft employees, using AI to recommend specific skills that align their career pathways and the wider needs of the business. 

On the MD Meets podcast, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the company is built on “trust and empowerment reinforced with a culture of learning,” and that it is prioritising emotional intelligence in employees and leaders as it upskills for the AI era. 

He said: “IQ has a place, but it’s not the only thing that is needed in the world.”

“And I’ve always felt at least as a leader, you know, if you have IQ without EQ, it’s just a waste of EQ.”

The learning maturity model

Research from the Josh Bersin Company suggests that there are four levels to company learning, which it calls the learning maturity model.

The first level is ‘Static Training’ which the report says is the starting point for many companies. In this learning style, companies tend to buy training courses, which Josh says offers “very little skills-based learning”. 

From there, companies can broaden their learning portfolio to offer a wider blend of options for the employer at level two, which the report calls ‘Scaled Learning’. 

More than three quarters of organisations surveyed fit into these bottom two categories, with the report suggesting that the most effective learning – ‘Integrated Development’ and ‘Dynamic Enablement’ – occurring when learning opportunities are tailored to career paths and skills development. 

The report says these involve bringing in HR teams to build a unified strategy for workforce learning, and building development opportunities through AI integration. 

At this top level, the Josh Bersin Company finds that companies are innovating significantly more, and see a 58% rise in productivity.