Report shows many Canadians taking DIY approach to AI – but work-approved tools, training boost confidence levels
Artificial intelligence is making its mark in Canadian workplaces, with half of office employees now using AI tools for their jobs — a sharp rise from just a third last year.
But while more people are jumping in, many are still left to navigate the world of AI without much help from their employers.
“Employees are ready and eager to embrace AI, but a lack of guidance remains a barrier,” says Ashley Otto, Senior Product Manager, Modern Workspace at CDW Canada, which released the report.
Gap between access to, usage of AI
The number of organizations that use AI, including controlled natural language tools such as Microsoft Copilot and Grammarly rose significantly from 46 percent in 2024 to 59 percent in 2025. However, only 44 percent of employees report using them, “highlighting a gap between access and usage of these tools,” says the report.
As further evidence: More than half of Canadian workers (53 percent) say they’re comfortable using AI tools, up from 45 percent in 2024 – but that number jumps to 75 percent for those with:
- organizational policies (78%)
- access to work-approved tools (75%)
- access to training (75%)
“AI adoption in Canadian workplaces has reached a tipping point in 2025,” says Brian Matthews, Head of Services Strategy and Development at CDW Canada, with half of employees now using AI tools for work and organizational integration seeing an uptake each year.
“We’re seeing a clear shift from experimentation to everyday use.”
Still, not everyone is taking full advantage. Only 44 percent of employees with access to work-approved AI make use of it, with some saying the tools just aren’t relevant to their tasks—especially in the public sector.
AI’s benefits go beyond productivity
AI isn’t just about getting more done, faster. The study shows that it’s also helping with things like employee engagement and work-life balance. In companies with approved AI, 30 percent of users say it boosts engagement, and 28 percent think it helps with work-life balance, says CDW in the report.
These benefits are closely followed by improved output quality (39 percent) and innovation acceleration (37 percent) as perceived value points for return on investment (ROI), says the report.
More than a third (36 percent) of Canadian workers reported they now have more time to focus on meaningful work and that they are producing more creative or strategic outputs.
While Canadian workplaces are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI), most employees—especially in human resources—are using these tools without proper training, and many are concerned about the future of their jobs, finds a separate report.
Security concerns rise as employees go it alone
The CDW survey, conducted in July 2025 among 1,005 Canadian office workers, found that 72% of Canadian employees using AI for work have access to work-approved AI.
Among Canadian workers who do not have access to work-approved AI, half (48 percent) already use AI for work.
Of concern for employers: 67% of employees using non-approved AI tools are learning through trial and error, while others rely on informal learning channels like social media (21 percent), online forums or communities (20 percent), family and friends (19 percent) and video tutorials (18 percent).
This DIY approach has its faults: “Disclosing company or client information through AI tools poses clear organizational risks,” the report warns.
Employees cited being very concerned about the risk of personal data breaches (55 percent), unclear legal regulations and compliance issues (52 percent), and sensitive corporate data exposure through use of free unauthorized AI tools (49 percent).
Employers’ increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) has introduced new cybersecurity threats for many, according to a recent Cisco report.
As AI becomes a bigger part of work life, organizations are urged to get ahead of privacy, compliance, and security issues.
“AI brings immense value to the workplace, offering enhanced productivity, efficiency and accelerated innovation. As with any technology, its potential is accompanied by risks, particularly regarding data exposure, misuse and evolving security threats,” says the CDW report.
“It is imperative for organizations to provide employees with proper training and resources to understand these risks and adhere to policies for responsible AI use.”
