Pearson says artificial intelligence will not deliver meaningful productivity gains unless it is paired with large-scale workforce learning, according to new research released on Sunday at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The report, published by Pearson, estimates that combining AI adoption with continuous upskilling could add between $4.8 trillion and $6.6 trillion to the U.S. economy by 2034, equivalent to roughly 15 percent of current GDP at the upper end.

The study finds that while companies are investing heavily in AI, tangible productivity gains outside software development remain limited, largely because workers lack the skills to use AI effectively. Pearson argues that focusing on augmenting jobs rather than replacing employees, and embedding learning directly into daily work, is critical to closing this “learning gap” and achieving a return on AI investments. The report proposes a new framework that prioritizes diagnosing task-level AI use, integrating learning into workflows, measuring skills progress, and treating learning as a strategic investment, warning that failure to address skills shortages could leave both workers and businesses behind as AI adoption accelerates.

Source: Pearson, “Mind the Learning Gap: The Missing Link in AI’s Productivity Promise”