Whether we like it or not, artificial intelligence is changing the way we work. Having some proficiency in AI is becoming an essential tool for workers and job seekers alike – who are relying on the technology to generate ideas, automate tasks, analyse data, craft cover letters and more.
Research shows that more of us are leaning on AI to help us at work. According to Zety’s 2025 Future or Work Report95% of employees are actively participating in training or taking other steps to improve their AI skills, and 71% already use AI at work. Nearly one in four people wish their employers would make AI-powered tools readily available, a survey of more than 1,100 people by LiveCareer found.
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For the technology-shy, the idea of embracing AI can be daunting. But learning to use it productively – and ethically – isn’t as difficult as it can seem. Although the term ‘AI skills’ encompasses the computing skills needed to design and build AI tools, not all AI skills are so technical.
AI literacy, understanding what AI can do and how to use AI systems, is an important competency that anyone can develop.
When we talk about AI, we tend to think about tools like ChatGPT, Copilot or Gemini. These are examples of generative AI, models that use existing data to create new content like text, images, videos and music. The key to using these tools is being able to write good prompts – questions, information or sentences – which influence the quality of the outputs you receive.
“Workers in any industry can benefit from learning how to write a great prompt for chatbots like Gemini and ChatGPT,” says Martin Poduška, at Kickresume. “We recently researched AI use at work and found that 78% of workers across many different industries use these tools in some way. Knowing what to include in the prompt in order to get the results you want is a skill that everyone would benefit from developing.”
AI tools are not foolproof, so it’s important to verify any facts and figures provided in an output. ·Surasak Suwanmake via Getty Images
To write a good prompt, keep your instructions concise, straightforward and conversational. Outline the context of the prompt, for example, if you’re asking an AI to write an email to a client, you may want to tell it to be professional. You can refine your prompt again by changing a word or phrase if you don’t get the results you’re looking for with your first attempt.
AI tools are not foolproof, so it’s important to verify any facts and figures provided in an output and double-check any references included. Often, AI outputs can be filled with vague ‘filler’ text and buzzwords. In a paper published in 2024, academics highlighted how large language models (LLM) are proliferating ‘careless speech’ online – AI-generated output that contains “subtle inaccuracies, oversimplifications or biased responses” that are phrased confidently.
“Being able to critically evaluate text or images created by generative AI is a specific kind of digital literacy skill that will only become more important as AI becomes more frequently used,” says Poduška. “Workers should always be on the lookout for errors or ‘hallucinations’ – incorrect or misleading outputs – in the text, and should develop their research skills to double check its accuracy.”
Rose Luckin, a professor of learner-centred design at University College London and an expert in AI use in education, says strategic AI integration is key. Essentially, the goal is to use AI to complement and improve human work, not to fully automate it.
“This involves understanding how to effectively incorporate AI tools to enhance human capabilities, recognising opportunities where AI can augment decision-making, developing critical evaluation skills to assess AI outputs, and maintaining human oversight and judgement,” she says.
AI can be helpful to workers across a range of sectors. ·Halfpoint Images via Getty Images
Staying curious about ways to use AI to save time can be helpful, adds Poduška. “One great example is using a chatbot to summarise long content like reports or emails, which can be really helpful if you’re returning to a project after working on something else and need to refresh your memory,” he says.
“There are lots of AI tools that you can use very easily for tasks that don’t require you to learn any coding, you just need to be open to trying something new. For instance, Grammarly checks spelling and grammar, and Canva helps you edit (and generate) images and presentations.”
It’s also essential to recognise the limitations of the technology. AI lacks human qualities like creativity, emotional intelligence, judgement and true contextual understanding.
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For example, AI may be able to write an email to a disgruntled customer, but it will likely lack the ‘human touch’ and may end up irritating them more. Likewise, an over-reliance on AI-driven hiring tools means taking human intuition out of the hiring process, which can lead to talented applicants being overlooked.
Jasmine Escalera, a career expert at Zetysays the future of work will likely be a blend of human expertise and AI innovation. “While HR managers are increasingly supportive of AI in job applications, the human element – trust, communication, and engagement – remains essential. Companies must navigate this intersection carefully to foster a work environment that values both technology and the people who power it.”
You can teach yourself how to use a lot of AI tools and like any skill, practice is key. However, taking a course can be a good way to develop more technical skills.
“There are a number of online courses available that you can follow in your own time, from free overviews to more in-depth, paid options,” says Poduška. “But these might still be accessible to lots of people as many are affordably priced, and employers are often happy to pay for their teams to have training.
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“If you’re looking for online courses I’d recommend choosing ones that are fairly recent so the information is up to date,” he adds. “You can see that these courses have a range of applications and are targeted towards different industries and sectors.”
Ultimately, there is no denying that Al may be a threat to some workers and their roles. But for others, it may be possible to take advantage of the rise of the technology by learning new skills – especially job seekers. “Being able to confidently use this technology to save time, automate tasks and generate new ideas looks great on an application and will come across well in an interview,” says Poduška.
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