IBM Study Finds Gap on Critical Thinking Skills for AI

IBM said in a press release that a global study of 1,500 chief human resources officers and 8,800 employees found differing views on the skills needed for AI. The surveys were conducted with Oxford Economics from April to June 2026 across multiple countries and industries.

Among chief human resources officers, 71% identified the ability to supervise, validate and override AI output as the most essential workforce skill. Only 29% of employees ranked judgment as important, while 60% said they worry AI is eroding their skills. Critical thinking was the skill employees most often cited as declining.

Organizations that classify workflows as led by humans, assisted by AI or executed by AI reported an 18% reduction in risk and a 20% improvement in quality. However, 46% do not involve their chief human resources officer in AI strategy, and 72% make limited or no use of AI in human resources.

The study also found that 43% of employees receive blame when AI goes wrong. Another 42% said AI increases their workload or leaves their work unrecognized, while 80% of chief human resources officers said AI adoption creates invisible work.