2026 Corporate AI Talent Study Report Available

Findings Identify AI Adoption and Training, Webcast Panel

CHICAGO, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The AI Leaders Council announces the release of its 2026 Corporate AI Talent Study, a research report that identifies how organizations across North America are adopting, training, and using artificial intelligence. The study results were presented and analyzed by AI experts during a webcast panel discussion that can be viewed in the events video archive here.

The first annual Corporate AI Talent Study follows the January 2026 Corporate AI Outlook study to identify significant increases in AI adoption in just 9 months with 97% of all respondents using AI in some capacity compared to 87% in January, along with increased AI pilots, and production use cases. However fully embedded AI across the enterprise stalls at just 3%. The AI Leaders Council – AI Adoption Stages™ framework identifies nuanced levels of AI deployment.

Study highlights identify that despite rapid adoption, workforce readiness and training is lacking with only 37% of respondents providing AI training, and 33% with no defined AI talent strategy. Also, contrary to pundits and media reports, widespread job elimination is not anticipated with 51% predicting no significant impact, 37% planning to change existing roles, while only 6% forecast current headcount reductions, and only 4% forecast hiring external AI specialists.

"The 2026 Corporate AI Talent study identifies the state of AI adoption, hiring, training, skills, and related factors that will ultimately drive success or failure," states Neil Brown, Executive Director and Board Chair of the AI Leaders Council. "Our research studies, and expert analysis will surely help AI and business professionals who lead AI in their respective organizations."

The full 2026 Corporate AI Talent Study report is available for complimentary download at: https://aileaderscouncil.org/2026-corporate-ai-talent-study/

To view the complimentary panel discussion, 2026 Corporate AI Talent Study Preview - Webcast Panel, link to: https://aileaderscouncil.org/events/2026-state-of-corporate-ai-talent-study-panel-preview/

ABOUT the AI Leaders Council
AI Leaders Council™ is a global platform and community for AI Directors, CAIOs, CTOs, CIOs and related executives focused on training and career development, best practice resources and programs, peer networking and more. Programs include strategic research studies including the annual Corporate AI Outlook™ Study, and the Corporate AI Talent™ Study, and upcoming AI 2030™ Predictions Panel. AI Leaders Council publishes the AI Adoption Stages™ framework, and the AI Budget Index™ forecast. Resources include the AI Insiders™ newsletter, and the AI Innovators™ Interview Series, along with numerous webcasts and roundtable panels on trending topics, informative articles and whitepapers. For more information, visit www.AiLeadersCouncil.org, or contact Neil Brown, Executive Director of the AI Leaders Council at [email protected], or call 630-710-4710.

Media Contact:
Heather Rowney
630-772-1022
[email protected]

SOURCE AI Leaders Council