Employees trained in artificial intelligence are reclaiming a full working day every week, according to a new global study from the London School of Economics’ Inclusion Initiative (TII) and consulting firm Protiviti. The report, Bridging the Generational AI Gap: Unlocking Productivity for All Generations, found that AI users save an average of 7.5 hours weekly—translating to roughly $18,000 (around £14,000) in annual productivity gains per employee.
That’s the headline number. The fine print? Two-thirds (68%) of workers have received no AI training in the past year, suggesting businesses are sitting on a massive, untapped productivity reserve.
“Closing the AI training gap is one of the fastest ways to unlock measurable returns,” said Dr. Grace Lordan, Founding Director of The Inclusion Initiative. “Equipping employees with the right skills doesn’t just improve productivity—it drives sharper decision-making and innovation.”
Training Beats Generation in the AI Era
Forget the myth that AI fluency is a Gen Z superpower. The study’s data makes one thing clear: training, not age, determines who wins the AI race.
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93% of employees who received AI training actively use it at work—compared with 57% of those without training.
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Trained employees save 11 hours per week, versus 5 hours for their untrained peers.
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A trained Gen X worker outperforms an untrained Gen Z when it comes to AI-driven productivity.
In short, companies that invest in AI upskilling across all age groups are seeing the biggest performance jumps.
Multigenerational AI Teams Deliver More
The LSE-Protiviti report also found that diverse teams—especially those blending generations—outperform homogenous ones. 77% of employees on multigenerational AI teams rated their groups as productive, compared with 66% on less diverse teams.
Dr. Daniel Jolles, co-lead researcher, noted that “for older generations in particular, training is key to adoption.” Diverse, well-trained teams not only bridge age divides but also foster collaboration and better outcomes.
A Wake-Up Call for HR Leaders
Protiviti’s global People & Change leader, Fran Maxwell, put it bluntly: “AI isn’t just another tool—it’s a catalyst for rethinking how organisations lead and empower their people.” Companies that embed AI into daily workflows and encourage experimentation are poised to reap the next wave of gains.
Matt Duncan, Managing Director at Protiviti, tied the findings to the firm’s 2025 Executive Perspectives on Top Risks Survey, where AI and talent availability rank among top executive concerns. “Investing in AI skills training across generations,” he said, “can drive commitment, mitigate risk, and unlock measurable organisational gains.”
The Bottom Line
While AI tools promise sweeping efficiency, it’s human capability—specifically, training—that turns potential into performance. As organisations face mounting pressure to boost productivity, close skills gaps, and retain talent, one takeaway stands out: don’t just buy AI—teach it.
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