AI Readiness is Not a Technical Ambition. It is a Human One.

True AI readiness is not about tools. It's about trust, transparency, and translation.

Organizations worldwide are investing heavily in AI solutions, but our research shows that capability gaps in data literacy continue to constrain impact. To fully realize the promise of AI, we must shift focus from tools to people, from implementation to understanding, from automation to accountability.

AI readiness requires people who can:

• Govern the Process by establishing guardrails and ensuring ethical use

• Question the Machine by asking what data drove conclusions and whether they make sense

• Validate the Output by determining if AI insights are meaningful and spotting errors algorithms might miss

• Communicate the Story by translating AI outputs into clear, actionable business language

• Override When Necessary by intervening with skills and authority when needed

The most critical competencies for human oversight of AI (governance, culture, analysis, and interpretation) remain among the most underdeveloped across organizations. These findings indicate significant opportunities for alignment between technological investment and human capacity.

The organizations that will thrive in the AI era are not those with the most sophisticated algorithms, but those with the most capable people overseeing them.

AI will reshape industries. The critical question is whether workforces are equipped to guide that transformation.

Our 2025 Global Data Literacy Benchmark, released today, examines these integrated capabilities across industries, regions, and occupations worldwide. The findings reveal significant opportunities for organizations to align their AI investments with human capability development.