TalentLMS warns AI is widening workplace learning debt

TalentLMS has published a report on what it calls learning debt in the workplace, finding that employees are increasingly using AI tools to bridge training gaps.

The report defines learning debt as a backlog of learning that builds when jobs change faster than companies train staff. It links that gap to preventable mistakes, lower-quality work, and weaker performance over time.

Its findings suggest many workers are using AI to complete tasks without fully understanding the underlying process. It found that 59% of employees use AI tools at least sometimes to complete work they were not trained to do, while 50% say AI helps them complete tasks even when they do not understand the process behind them.

Another 37% say AI tools have made them appear more competent at work than they are. The report also found that 29% have delivered work they could not fully explain if asked how they did it.

It also found that 41% of employees believe their role has evolved faster than their employer's ability to train them. That points to a wider mismatch between changing job demands and workplace learning, particularly as digital tools reshape day-to-day tasks.

Hidden gaps

The report argues that learning debt often remains hidden because employees do not want to admit what they do not know. It found that 47% of employees have stayed quiet about not knowing how to do something related to their job.

Among those respondents, 50% said they were expected to figure things out on their own, while 49% said they did not want to appear incompetent. A further 29% said they did not feel safe admitting they did not know something.

Managers may not have a clear view of the problem. More than a quarter of employees, 28%, said their manager does not know how often they struggle with the skills their job requires.

The report also points to a cultural factor inside companies. Employees were more likely to say their employer values appearing confident and capable, at 39%, than being open about gaps in knowledge, at 29%.

Business impact

The effect of these hidden skill gaps can be seen in work output. Employees who are falling behind on learning are nearly six times more likely to make mistakes that proper training would have prevented, according to the report.

Respondents also identified broader operational consequences. Some 65% said work quality suffers most when employees fall behind on skill development, while 50% pointed to lower productivity and 48% cited weaker performance.

The report suggests the problem is not only the absence of formal training, but also its timing and adequacy. While 46% of employees said they receive some training when new tools or processes are introduced, they said it is not enough to prepare them fully. Another 9% said they receive no training at all.

The findings come as employers continue to integrate AI tools into routine work, often before training practices have adapted. That can leave organisations with an appearance of competence and output, even when employees are still building basic understanding.

Dimitris Tsingos, Chief Executive Officer at Epignosis, the parent company of TalentLMS, said the rise of AI at work is changing how employees acquire skills.

"AI is blurring the line between learning and doing," said Dimitris Tsingos, Chief Executive Officer at Epignosis. "This shift changes how employees build skills. But when they use AI tools for work they were never trained to do, organizations may see productivity on the surface while learning debt builds underneath. The opportunity for businesses is to make learning more connected to work, with AI-powered employee training that supports self-led learning and helps close gaps."

Training response

The report sets out several steps for employers, centred on making learning part of day-to-day work rather than a separate activity. It also argues for earlier identification of skill gaps and a workplace culture where staff can ask questions without fearing damage to their credibility.

Those recommendations reflect the report's broader conclusion that the pace of change at work is outstripping traditional training approaches. As companies roll out new systems and expect staff to adapt quickly, the gap between visible performance and actual understanding may widen.

TalentLMS is part of Epignosis and focuses on workplace learning software. It says its platform is used by more than 22 million learners across more than 12,000 organisations worldwide.