What it means
AI adoption is the process by which an organisation and its people take up AI and integrate it into everyday work in a way that is sustained, useful and responsible. It goes beyond buying or deploying tools to include changed processes, skills, culture and governance.
Real-world example
A health authority rolled out an AI writing assistant to 2,000 staff, but after three months only 8% used it regularly. Interviews revealed unclear rules on what data was allowed, no examples relevant to clinical administration, and managers who were sceptical. After clear guidance, team-specific examples and peer champions, regular use rose substantially.
Why it matters for AI adoption
Deployment is not adoption. Licence counts and launch announcements say little about whether AI is creating value. Adoption depends on trust, relevance, skills, leadership support and well-designed workflows, and it should be measured by meaningful use and outcomes.
Questions to ask
- How will we know whether people are actually using AI well, not just whether they have access?
- What barriers are stopping people from using it, and who is addressing them?