Why AI Adoption is Stalling – And How to Fix It
Over the past month, we've had the opportunity to run a webinar series on AI adoption and using Microsoft Copilot in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. More than 1,400 people have attended our sessions, and many joined for all trainings – a clear sign that interest in AI is high. The feedback? Overwhelmingly positive.
Learning together: AiSkillSet’s live training sessions help teams go from curious to confident with AI.
Our trainings revealed that age does not hinder the interest in learning new skills among Helsingin Ekonomit members. Most attendees were over fifty years old, with a quarter over sixty, demonstrating their eagerness to adopt new technologies. Additionally, while many participants were experts in one of the tools taught and initially saw little value in integrating Gen AI, they reported finding significant benefits in using Gen AI with other tools with which they were less familiar.
Yet despite the enthusiasm, we’re seeing a common trend across companies in Finland, especially among larger organizations: initial AI pilot projects run smoothly with eager volunteers, but adoption slows significantly once companies try to scale usage across the broader workforce.
The Technology Adoption Gap
This slowdown is a textbook example of the technology adoption lifecycle in action. When companies kick off their Gen AI initiatives, they often work with a small group of curious and motivated employees. These “early adopters” are excited, experimental, and usually the most digitally fluent within their teams.
But once organizations move to train the majority, those who may be more skeptical, overwhelmed, or simply time-starved—the cracks begin to show. In my interviews with some of Finland’s largest companies, it’s clear that even with online trainings readily available, 30–40% of highly enthusiastic pilot program participants report not having engaged with the material, even after 6–12 months.
If that's the outcome with motivated volunteers, we can only expect more friction as AI tools are rolled out more broadly.
The AiSkillSet team – on a mission to ensure no one gets left behind in the AI transition.
Why In-Person Training Matters
At AiSkillSet, we believe that the key to successful AI adoption is ensuring a great first experience. When an AI tool like Microsoft Copilot works brilliantly for one person and fails for another—even with a nearly identical prompt—it can lead to frustration, loss of trust, and resistance. This is where in-person training, with a professional AI trainer present, makes all the difference.
We specialize in hands-on, in-person AI training at the client’s location, ensuring each participant feels supported, guided, and confident using generative AI tools in their own work. Our trainings are available in both Finnish and English, making it easier for diverse teams to engage and succeed. Whether it’s ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or broader AI adoption strategies, our goal is to help organizations move beyond the pilot phase and truly embed AI into their everyday operations.
Let’s Make AI Work for Everyone
If your company is looking to scale AI usage beyond your pilot group, now is the time to invest in meaningful, supportive training that meets employees where they are.
For those who missed the live sessions, recordings are available in the webinar archive hosted by Helsingin Ekonomit. Links to the webinars and additional resources can be found below. Let's continue to embrace AI and drive innovation in our respective fields.
Webinar Links:
Hands on with AI Series part 1: AI Assisted Writing - Supercharge Your Documents with Copilot (Word)
Hands on with AI Series part 2: Work Smarter, Not Harder (Excel)
