Google: Only 5% of the US Workforce is AI Fluent

Company AI spending is increasing significantly.

According to CNBC, Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon’s combined AI spend in 2026 is estimated to be close to US$700bn. 

These investments mean little, however, when the workforce is not adequately trained in using AI effectively. 

A study from Google in collaboration with Ipsos finds that only 5% of US workers are considered AI fluent – meaning they have redesigned or reorganised their role significantly using AI. 

Beyond that, only two out of five US workers are using AI in their roles at all – which can have widespread implications on both the growth of the business and individual employees. 

Workers who were classed as AI fluent were 4.5 times more likely to report higher wages than those who were not, as well as being four times more likely to report a promotion linked to their ability to use AI. 

The research recommends that employers should prioritise hiring AI-ready talent and invest in training for employees.

Developing AI fluent talent

The report suggests that part of the reason employees are not AI fluent on a wide scale is due to a lack of training. 

Only 37% of workers say their organisation offers guidance on how to use AI at work, while just 14% have been offered AI training. 

This creates an environment where employees are unsure of where AI fits into their role, with 53% of respondents saying they don’t believe AI applies to what they do. 

According to Fabien Curto Millet, Chief Economist at Google, this can significantly impact business competitiveness. 

Speaking to Fortune about this report, he said: “Failing to invest in training means running the risk of losing ground to competitors who are already reaping these rewards.”

“Employers should consider what happens when their competitors are the ones achieving that kind of jump in quality and efficiency first.”

Google itself has a range of AI training options for employees, offering courses on prompting, ethical AI usage and AI coding – and the company has seen a significant return on its investment in AI. 

It announced its 2025 fourth quarter earnings in February 2025, revealing revenues had exceeded US$400bn for the first time, with CEO Sundar Pichai largely attributing this to Google’s developments in AI. 

In an earnings call, Sundar said: “Overall, we’re seeing our AI investments and infrastructure drive revenue growth across the board.”

Hiring AI-ready talent

The number of entry level roles has decreased in recent years, with the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2025 report finding that 40% of leaders expect to reduce their workforce where AI can automate tasks. 

Google’s report, however, suggests investing in tech-native employees can help businesses see real long-term growth. 

Fabien says: “If nothing else, I am routinely struck by how remarkably well versed young people are in AI. 

“Organisations would do well to continue to secure young talent, who can then engage in ‘reverse mentorship’ and help upskill the organisation in the most cutting-edge ways to use AI.”

These findings follow IBM announcing it is looking to triple its US-based entry level workforce in 2026, hiring across a wide range of departments. 

Nickle LaMoreaux, Chief Human Resources Officer at IBM, told audiences at Charter’s Leading with AI summit that the types of jobs entry level workers are doing now has changed significantly as a result of AI. 

She said: “The entry-level jobs that you had two to three years ago, AI can do most of them.

“So, if you’re going to convince your business leaders that you need to make this investment, then you need to be able to show the real value these individuals can bring now. And that has to be through totally different jobs.”