ISACA’s 2025 AI Pulse Poll finds that nearly a third of organizations are increasing jobs for AI-related functions in the next 12 months 

Schaumburg, IL—In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses are increasingly harnessing the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) to drive innovation and efficiency in the workplace. ISACA’s 2025 AI Pulse Poll provides a crucial snapshot into how digital trust professionals and their organizations are approaching AI training and skill development, as well as the potential risks associated with AI adoption—ultimately shaping the future of work.

ISACA’s annual AI Pulse Poll, which surveyed 3,029 digital trust professionals worldwide, delves into AI usage, training, and risk prioritization in the workplace, finding both areas of promise and room for improvement.

AI Use Booming, Despite Policies, Training Lacking

A large majority are now using AI at work—81 percent of respondents believe employees within their organization use AI, whether it is permitted or not. Sixty-eight percent of respondents say that the use of AI has resulted in time savings for them and their organization, and more than half (56%) believe that AI will have a positive impact on their career in the next year. The technology is being used in a range of ways, including:

1. To create written content (52%) 
2. To increase productivity (51%) 
3. To automate repetitive tasks (40%) 
4. Analyzing large amounts of data (38%) 
5. Customer service (33%) 

While strides have been made in AI policies and training, they still have a way to go. Only 28 percent of organizations have a formal, comprehensive policy in place for AI (up from 15 percent last year). Though 59 percent of organizations say they permit the use of generative AI (up from 42 percent last year), 32 percent of respondents say there is no AI training provided to any employees, 35 percent provide training only to those in IT-related positions, and only 22 percent train all employees. 

Also, while many are using AI, they may not all fully understand it—56 percent say they are just somewhat familiar with AI, with only 6 percent saying they are extremely familiar and 28 percent consider themselves to be very familiar.

AI Skills, Training Increasingly Essential

Respondents, however, recognize the vital importance of AI skills in a work landscape that is quickly evolving because of this technology. Nearly a third say that organizations are increasing jobs for AI-related functions in the next 12 months, and 85 percent of respondents agree or strongly agree that many jobs will be modified due to AI.

While 84 percent of digital trust professionals consider themselves to have just a beginner or intermediate level of expertise in AI, 72 percent believe that AI skills are very or extremely important for professionals in their field right now. Eighty-nine percent say they will need AI training within the next two years to advance their careers or even keep their current roles, and 45 percent say it is needed within the next six months.

AI Risks but Lack of Action

A workforce skilled in AI is also increasingly important in tackling the wide-ranging AI risks facing the world today, which respondents believe are not being adequately addressed.

Sixty-six percent of respondents expect deepfake cyberthreats to become more sophisticated and widespread in the next 12 months, but only 21 percent say their organizations are actively investing in tools to detect and mitigate deepfake threats. Sixty-one percent are very or extremely worried that generative AI will be exploited by bad actors, and 59 percent believe that AI-powered phishing and social engineering attacks are now more difficult to detect. 

Additionally, only 41 percent believe organizations are adequately addressing ethical concerns in AI deployment, such as data privacy, bias and accountability. And only 30 percent have a high degree of confidence in their ability to detect AI-related misinformation. 

Only 42 percent of respondents say AI risks are an immediate priority for their organization, including these top risks they cited:

1. Misinformation/disinformation (80 percent) 
2. Privacy violations (69 percent) 
3. Social engineering (63 percent) 
4. Loss of IP (53 percent) 
5. Job displacement (40 percent) 

“Enterprises urgently need to foster a culture of continuous learning and prioritize robust AI policies and training in AI, to ensure they are equipping their employees with the necessary expertise to leverage these technologies responsibly and effectively—unlocking the AI’s full potential,” says Jason Lau, ISACA board director and CISO, Crypto.com. “It is just as important for organizations to make a deliberate shift to integrate AI into their security strategies—threat actors already are doing so, and failing to keep pace will expose organizations to escalating risks.”

AI Guidance, Resources

Access the pulse poll and related resources at www.isaca.org/ai-pulse-poll.

ISACA offers a range of other AI resources, including the Artificial Intelligence Audit Toolkit and several courses—including AI Fundamentals, AI Governance, and AI Threat Landscape. ISACA has also recently released its new Advanced in AI Audit (AAIA) certification—a first-of-its-kind certification that can be earned by professionals with a CISA or another qualifying credential*— and will be launching its Advanced in AI Security Management (AAISM) certification, which can be earned by CISMs and CISSPs, in August.

About ISACA

ISACA^® (www.isaca.org) champions the global workforce advancing trust in technology. For more than 55 years, ISACA has empowered its community of 185,000+ members with the knowledge, credentials, training and network they need to thrive in fields like information security, governance, assurance, risk management, data privacy and emerging tech. With a presence in more than 190 countries and with nearly 230 chapters worldwide, ISACA offers resources tailored to every stage of members’ careers—helping them to thrive in a rapidly changing digital landscape, drive trusted innovation and ensure a more secure digital world. Through the ISACA Foundation, ISACA also expands IT and education career pathways, fostering opportunities to grow the next generation of technology professionals.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/isaca 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ISACAGlobal 
Instagram: www.instagram.com/isacanews 

Contact:

communications@isaca.org
Emily Ayala, +1.847.385.7223
Bridget Drufke, +1.847.660.5554

*Those with an active credential from the following list are eligible to pursue the AAIA:

All qualify:

• CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor from ISACA)

Must be in an IT audit or IT advisory role to qualify:

• CIA (Certified Internal Auditor from the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA))
• CPA (Certified Public Accountant from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA))
• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Qualification from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)
• FFCA (ACCA Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA))
• Canadian CPA (Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant from the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada)
• CPA Australia (Certified Practicing Accountant)
• FCPA (CPA Australia Fellow Certified Practicing Accountant)
• Japanese CPA (Japanese Certified Public Accountant from the Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (JICPA))