A recent survey by multinational technology services company Accenture has unveiled a concerning imbalance between technology investment and employee training. The survey, titled Pulse for Change – WEF 2025 Edition, highlights the growing gap between how business leaders and employees view the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace.

While executives in both countries are enthusiastic about investing in AI, employees express skepticism and uncertainty about its impact on their roles. The findings draw attention to an alarming trend where businesses are prioritizing technology acquisition over training employees to effectively utilize these new tools.

The survey, which gathered responses from 790 C-suite executives and 697 employees across 22 industries, found that 78% of executives are eager to increase their AI investments by 2025. However, 77% of employees believe AI will significantly affect their jobs, yet they remain unsure about how they will be equipped to handle these changes. Despite this shared recognition of AI’s potential, there is a clear disconnect in how leaders and employees perceive the necessary steps to integrate the technology into the workforce.

One of the study's most revealing findings is the significant imbalance between the amount of money being spent on acquiring new technology and the investment made in employee training. According to the research, for every dollar spent on training employees, businesses are investing three times that amount on acquiring new technology, particularly AI. This disproportionate focus on technological advancement over employee skill development highlights the risks of companies rushing to adopt AI without ensuring their workforce is adequately prepared to leverage it effectively.

This gap is further magnified in the context of generative AI (GenAI), a key area of focus for business leaders. While 66% of C-suite executives claim to have a strong understanding of GenAI’s potential, only 55% of employees feel the same way. This discrepancy is fueling uncertainty among workers, who are unsure how AI will directly impact their day-to-day tasks.

The survey also found that 93% of C-suite leaders believe their teams have received sufficient training to use AI effectively, while only 86% of employees agree with this assessment. Many employees cite concerns over output accuracy (33%), lack of resources (38%), and integration difficulties (10%) as key barriers to adopting generative AI tools within their organizations.

As businesses prepare for rapid transformations in 2025, 84% of executives anticipate a higher level of disruption compared to 2024, driven by geopolitical, talent, and economic challenges. However, nearly half (49%) of executives admit that their organizations are not adequately prepared to manage these disruptions. In contrast, 54% of employees in both countries are skeptical about their company’s readiness to adapt to the evolving business environment.

While AI presents significant opportunities for growth and innovation, businesses in Australia and New Zealand must take a more holistic approach to its integration by prioritizing both technological advancements and employee training. Only with an investment in developing the right skills and knowledge within the workforce will companies be equipped to fully harness AI’s potential.