AI's $6.6 Trillion Promise Hinges on a Human Upgrade

A new report from education company Pearson found that augmenting jobs with AI could add up to $6.6 trillion to the U.S. economy by 2034, but only if businesses close a massive "learning gap" by investing in their workforce alongside the technology.

• The productivity paradox: Pearson's analysis, released at the World Economic Forum, points out that companies are spending billions on AI infrastructure but seeing minimal ROI outside of coding. The study says the problem is a strategy focused on replacing workers rather than augmenting their roles, creating a chasm that threatens to derail AI's potential.

• The human cost: The automation-first approach is creating widespread anxiety among employees, who fear for their jobs as new tools are rolled out without proper training. The report describes the situation as a "growing emotional and economic toll," with the World Economic Forum estimating nearly 60% of the global workforce will need reskilling by 2030.

• Flipping the model: "The biggest obstacle to AI adoption is the lack of human skills to work alongside these technologies," said Pearson CEO Omar Abbosh in a statement. He insists the solution is flipping the 'deploy tech, then adapt' model on its head, making skill-building and tech deployment happen in lockstep.

The report's message is clear: the true return on AI investment won't come from the technology alone, but from pairing it with a commitment to human development. For businesses, the most crucial upgrade might not be to their software, but to their people. To tackle the skills gap, major players are already forming alliances, with Pearson and Deloitte partnering to equip enterprises and governments.