A new study from TD shows Canadians are feeling pressure to keep up with AI in the workplace, even if many feel shaky about the technology in general. The 2026 TD AI Insights report found nearly one in three Canadians polled, or 32 per cent, say they’ve overstated their AI abilities at work as expectations rise. “We don’t like to feel left out, especially in a workplace environment where we have coworkers that we’re around everyday, so it’s social signalling that, ‘Oh, I know how to use these tools. I feel good with it,’” digital anthropologist Giles Crouch told CTV News. “We don’t want to show we don’t know how to use them or that we’re uncomfortable or that maybe we don’t like them, because we won’t say that in the workplace.” Seventy-eight per cent of respondents believe adoption of AI in the workplace is inevitable. “AI is becoming more prevalent across the world of work but for many people it still feels new and unfamiliar,” says Luke Gee, TD chief analytics and AI officer in a news release. “The pace of change can feel fast.” However, the belief of inevitably ranged by age with 89 per cent of Boomers thinking AI adoption in the workplace is only a matter of time, while 81 per cent of Gen X and 79 per cent of Millennials felt that way. Just 65 per cent of Gen Z hold that belief. “Younger generations have used so many different tools over so many years, they don’t feel loyal to these tools, so they don’t feel that AI is as inevitable,” said Crouch. He also noted workers have adapted to other technologies over decades, for instance the internet, so he said AI is inevitable. Atlantic Canadians were found to be the wariest of AI’s impact on jobs. According to the report, 74 per cent see it as more of a threat than an opportunity for future jobs, the highest of any region and above the national average of 68 per cent. “We’re all trying to figure it out right now. There’s no rule book. There’s no user guide that you can open up and say, ‘This is how to use AI,’” said Crouch. TD suggests that AI can help with workers’ productivity, and employees could benefit from more training to use the technology more effectively. The bank says without embracing AI, workers will not be adapting to new technologies and risk falling behind in their industries. “The future of work will require organizations to help people develop new skills as technology evolves… Those that prioritize learning and equip employees with the right tools and support will ensure their people thrive,” says TD Bank’s senior executive vice-president Melanie Burns. Yet, Atlantic Canadians aren’t reporting feeling left behind. Under half of Atlantic workers, or 45 per cent, who use AI on the job say their workplace is lagging on AI adoption. This is the lowest in any region against the national average of 53 per cent. “I think AI is something everyone’s curious about, worried about, seeing it happen in the industries,” said Philip Cantrill, People Plus Consulting Ltd. CEO, to CTV News. People Plus Consulting supports individuals and organizations in their employment activities. Cantrill said in 2026, many workers and employers have turned to AI during the hiring process. “How can you get AI to help when you’re applying for a job? Maybe come up with what are some of the questions that you may see that you may want to answer,” he said. As AI continues to evolve, many workers are trying to evolve with it. “I think there’s a lot of AI training needed and certainly out there, a lot of people looking at how to maximize their AI skills, whether it’s online training or actually going to different programs,” said Cantrill. The 2026 TD AI Insights report polled a sample of 2,501 Canadians over the age of 18 between Feb. 17 and 23, conducted with Ipsos.
