A recent journal article based partly on longitudinal WorkAI data introduces and validates a new short measure for assessing AI learning readiness self-efficacy (AILRSE-5), with direct relevance for research on work, skills development, and AI-driven transformation of working life.
Published in Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans, the study validates a five-item scale designed to measure individuals’ confidence in their ability to learn, adapt to, and apply new AI technologies. The scale was originally developed and tested within the WorkAI project, where it demonstrated strong reliability and stability across two measurement points among working populations.
The findings show that AI learning readiness self-efficacy is closely linked to positive attitudes toward AI and actual use of AI tools at work, and that it can be reliably tracked over time. This makes AILRSE-5 particularly well suited for longitudinal research on AI adoption, upskilling, and employee adaptation in changing work environments.
Beyond research use, the brief and validated nature of the AILRSE-5 scale makes it easy to integrate into surveys, organizational studies, and training evaluations. It offers a practical tool for identifying groups that may need additional support in AI-related learning and for monitoring how confidence in using AI develops as workplaces adopt new technologies.
The study strengthens the WorkAI project’s contribution to understanding how employees experience and respond to AI-driven change, and provides a concrete instrument for future research, workplace development, and policy discussions on AI and work.
More details:
Oksanen, A., Osma, T., Heiskari, M. Cvetkovic, A., Soares Ruokosuo, E. Koike, M. Arriaga, P., Savolainen, I. (2026). Mapping AI Learning Readiness Self-Efficacy Worldwide: Scale Validation and Cross-Continental Patterns. Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbah.2026.100251.