Inside the Emerging Mental Model of AI Skills

Our multi-phase study explored how everyday AI users, from light users to self-identified experts, understand the skills that matter most in day-to-day work. Through qualitative interviews and a 200-person survey, we found that proficiency develops primarily through hands-on practice, experimentation, and curiosity rather than formal instruction. Users rely on a familiar set of tools embedded in existing workflows and define proficiency through practical abilities: crafting clear prompts, applying AI across tasks, understanding tool capabilities, and evaluating outputs. Confidence is strongly linked to breadth of real-world use. While trust in AI is high across scenarios, users rarely mention responsible-use behaviors, revealing a critical gap for organizations building an AI-ready workforce. These findings point to a set of practical implications for organizations, outlined in detail in the full report available for download below.