When organizations invest in AI and other workplace technologies, they often focus on integration, security, and cost-efficiency. But one of the most critical—and overlooked—factors in successful adoption is employee training.
Training Gaps Drive Tech Resistance
According to the newly released Yooz 2025 Workplace Tech Resistance report, training deficiencies are the leading reason employees resist new tools, including AI platforms. Nearly half of respondents—48%—believe better training would significantly improve adoption outcomes.
That figure challenges a common narrative. Resistance to AI is often attributed to fear of job loss, generational divides, or technophobia. But the data tells a different story: most employees aren’t afraid of technology—they’re frustrated by how poorly they’re prepared to use it.
The Training Reality: Too Little, Too Late
More than half of those surveyed—52%—said they receive only basic training on new tools. Even more troubling, 1 in 5 reported receiving little to no instruction at all. Without sufficient support, even the most intuitive platforms can become barriers instead of enablers.
The consequences extend beyond frustration. Missed onboarding opportunities can turn early enthusiasm into long-term disengagement. And that disengagement affects not only productivity, but also trust in leadership and appetite for future innovation.
Gen Z Needs More Support Than Expected
The report also revealed generational nuances that defy expectations. Twenty-eight percent of Gen Z workers said they feel overlooked and unsupported when new tech is introduced—more than their Baby Boomer counterparts (22%). This challenges assumptions that digital natives will seamlessly adapt to any new platform.
What’s more, 39% of employees believe the tools themselves should be more intuitive and require less training altogether. That insight signals a dual responsibility: product teams must design with the user in mind, and HR and IT leaders must deliver the training needed to close usability gaps.
The problem, then, isn’t generational—it’s structural.
A Structural Problem, Not a Generational One
For organizations rolling out AI-powered systems, this data offers a clear takeaway: training isn’t optional—it’s strategic. And not just at launch. Ongoing, role-specific enablement should be part of any technology roadmap. When users understand the “how” and “why” of a tool, they’re more likely to embrace it, apply it, and innovate with it.
Technology can only transform a workplace if the people using it are equipped to succeed.