The practical path forward

AI is powerful, but successfully addressing motivation challenges is not as simple as "add AI and stir." For HR leaders looking to harness AI while addressing motivation challenges, consider these approaches:

Start with "why": Before introducing new learning technologies, clearly articulate how these tools will benefit employees professionally and personally, both in the short term and long term.
Address privacy, trust and safety head-on: Privacy and data concerns are top of mind for HR and learning professionals in our research, with roughly half expressing concerns about protecting user data and AI's accuracy in understanding individual learning needs. Addressing these concerns starts with prioritizing transparency and building trust. HR leaders should ensure AI systems are designed with robust data protections, ethical guidelines and clear disclosures on how information is used.
Involve employees in selection: When employees participate in choosing learning platforms, they develop ownership that naturally enhances engagement. By involving employees in the conversation and choosing tools that prioritize both accuracy and privacy, organizations can unlock AI's potential while safeguarding what matters most.
Change the framing: Consider how your organization approaches upskilling. Are you presenting it as a mandate or as an opportunity? Are you connecting learning to meaningful career advancement? These framing decisions—and incentives—dramatically influence how employees respond.
Build learning into work: Give employees official time during the week to upskill. At Udemy, we've created UDays where employees are encouraged to refrain from scheduling meetings and use the time to learn one of our priority skills (for instance, how to leverage AI in their role).

An opportunity for HR leaders

As AI adoption accelerates, HR leaders stand at a crossroads. We can focus exclusively on technological implementation, or we can recognize that part of our unique value lies in addressing the human factors of motivation.

Instant Insights /

Overcoming the hidden barrier to employee upskilling: Motivation

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