Canadians feel pressure to keep up with AI at work, Maritimers most wary of it: new report

A person types on a laptop computers as President of the Treasury Board Anita Anand speaks during an Artificial Intelligence roundtable attended by AI experts and leaders from across Canada in Gatineau, Que., on Monday, May 27, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

More to come…