Workers need the judgement to challenge and check AI-generated information, as well as the technical skills to use the tools, according to education charity NCFE.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the share of UK businesses with at least 10 employees using AI has risen from around 12% in late 2023 to 35%. Yet just 11% of businesses of that size report that more than half their workforce has received AI-related training.
The ONS also found that 55% of employed and self-employed people reported using AI for work or education.
Gray Mytton, Assessment Innovation Manager at NCFE, says workers must be able to recognise when information may be wrong and decide whether an output is appropriate to use.
Workers need to be able to challenge what AI gives them, interpret the information and decide whether it is accurate and appropriate.
Preparing for changing tasks
The comments follow NCFE’s launch of two Level 2 qualifications in Artificial Intelligence for the Workplace, covering AI literacy, practical use, ethics, responsible use and critical evaluation.
Mytton says AI is changing individual tasks across jobs, while creating work in areas such as AI strategy, governance and implementation. He also points to concerns about entry-level opportunities as more foundational tasks become automated.
“We’re unlikely to predict exactly how every job will change. What we can do is make sure people have the skills to adapt as AI changes tasks and ways of working,” he said.
“Curiosity, problem solving, critical thinking and adaptability are already important skills, but AI is making them even more important. People will need to keep learning and adjusting as the technology develops.”
Mytton argues that formal learning should be accompanied by opportunities to explore tools, test ideas and gain practical experience, helping people build confidence while understanding where human judgement remains necessary.
Sources: Office for National Statistics. More information on NCFE’s AI in the Workplace qualifications.
