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Executives agree that AI is the technology of the future, but this does not guarantee successful outcomes. By Gillian Manning. It is clear that artificial intelligence will continue to improve and gain popularity. However, implementing AI without an effective plan can worsen existing gaps within organizations. The 2026 Global Learning Transformation Benchmark Survey, conducted by NIIT and St. Charles Consulting Group, surveyed senior leaders worldwide. It found that 53% of respondents identified embedding AI-enabled tools into their company’s workflow as a top priority for the next 12 to 24 months. Despite this alignment in priorities, the survey reveals that “execution gaps are widest in the most strategically important areas, especially AI-enabled learning and skills-based strategies.” Larry Durham, president of St. Charles Consulting Group, explains, “The gap is not intent, but infrastructure. Executive teams are making increasingly consequential workforce and AI decisions without systems that reliably connect skills, learning, and performance. This research gives leaders a clear view of where structural risk is accumulating—and what must be rebuilt to support sustainable growth.” Other objectives executives plan to prioritize over the next 12 to 24 months include evolving their learning and development strategies (44%), building a skills-based talent strategy (41%), and integrating learning with broader HR and talent systems (38%). While executives are eager to address these goals, they first need to understand what their organizations can realistically handle within a reasonable timeframe.
