Artificial intelligence is gaining traction in the workplace, but new data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that adoption is far from evenly distributed. Higher-income, college-educated, and full-time workers are far more likely to use AI tools, while lower-income workers lag behind. At the same time, demand for AI training is rising, with many employees willing to trade compensation for access. The findings suggest that while AI has the potential to boost productivity, uneven access and limited training could prevent those gains from being realized across the workforce.
Among employed respondents, 39% report using AI tools at work within the past year, though adoption varies widely by income and education level. Workers earning under $50,000 report usage rates of just 15.9%, compared to 66.3% among those earning over $200,000. College graduates are more than twice as likely to use AI as those without a degree.
These disparities raise concerns that AI could widen existing workforce gaps rather than close them. Workers who already have access to technology and resources are accelerating their usage, while others risk falling further behind.
The data also highlight a two-step challenge for organizations. Access alone is not enough. Workers must also understand how to use AI effectively to see productivity gains.
While 66% of workers who use AI say it improves their productivity, nearly one in five report that it actually slows them down as they learn the tools. At the same time, 37% of workers say their employer does not provide access to AI tools, and another 11% say their employer actively prohibits their use.
Training is emerging as the key missing link. About 38% of workers say AI training is important, yet only about 16% report that their employer offers it. Workers cite making their jobs easier and increasing productivity as the primary reasons they value training.
Employees are placing real economic value on AI training. Workers without access say they would give up an average of 11.4% of their salary for a role that includes AI training. Meanwhile, those who already have access would require a 24.2% pay increase to leave it behind.
This gap suggests that AI training is quickly becoming a meaningful workplace benefit, similar to healthcare or retirement contributions.
