Few Canadians using AI at work daily, says TD Bank report

A survey by TD Bank Group has found that fewer than one in ten Canadian employees use workplace AI tools daily, indicating a significant opportunity for greater adoption and training.

The 2025 TD AI Insights Report surveyed 2,500 Canadians to assess their perceptions and usage of workplace AI. It found that 56 per cent of respondents who use AI at work say it enhances their productivity, with the proportion rising among younger workers. Specifically, 69 per cent of Gen Z and 59 per cent of Millennials report productivity gains from AI, compared to 50 per cent of Gen X and 38 per cent of Boomers.

Productivity and generational divide

Generational differences in attitude towards AI were apparent, with younger employees generally expressing greater optimism. Nearly one third of Gen Z (32 per cent) view AI as more of an opportunity than a threat to future employment. This view is shared by 23 per cent of Millennials, 18 per cent of Gen X, and 19 per cent of Boomers.

"AI is transforming the workplace and creating powerful new opportunities for growth, learning, and career advancement. At TD, we see AI not just as a tool but as an opportunity to enable and empower employees. Our focus is on building colleague confidence around new technologies," said Tina Robinet, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Shared Services at TD.

The report also found that knowledge of AI is considered a valuable career asset, with 52 per cent of those who use AI at work stating that it gives them a competitive advantage among their peers. At the same time, 27 per cent admit to exaggerating their AI proficiency to colleagues, signalling a sense of pressure to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving workplace.

Despite access to AI tools in many workplaces, routine usage remains limited. While 58 per cent of respondents said their workplace provides AI tools, only 8 per cent reported daily use. Another 14 per cent use them weekly, and 13 per cent monthly. A notable 42 per cent said they never use AI tools at work.

Skills gap and training needs

Insufficient training is the most commonly cited barrier to wider adoption of AI technologies. Among workers who use AI, 64 per cent feel their employers have not provided adequate guidance on effective usage, and more than a quarter strongly disagree that they have been given enough training for workplace AI.

This skills gap is also reflected in perceptions of colleagues and managers: 58 per cent stated that most of their peers "have no idea what they are doing" with AI, and 48 per cent believe their boss is "out of touch" regarding the technology's capabilities and risks.

TD reports that it has sought to address this gap through targeted learning and development programmes. Among certain staff groups, TD claims an engagement rate of 80 per cent with the Microsoft Office 365 Copilot tool and 92 per cent with GitHub Copilot. Feedback has reportedly been positive with respect to functions such as code augmentation and document creation.

The survey was conducted by Ipsos between March 17 and 31. The responses were weighted to ensure a representative sample reflecting national census demographics.