Literacy in the Algorithmic Age: The Gap Between Talent Interest and Business Structure
Being able to read and write is no longer enough in today's work environment. The commemoration of International Literacy Day, promoted by UNESCO every September 8, highlights the need for a new essential competence for human and professional development: the understanding and strategic use of artificial intelligence (AI).
Despite accelerated technological advancement, Mexico's workforce is in a markedly initial stage regarding specialization. According to the study "AI and Face-to-Face Work: The New Labor Landscape," prepared by WeWork and PageGroup, 71% of Mexican professionals rate their AI knowledge as basic, while barely 1% consider themselves advanced or expert in the field.
However, this lack of technical mastery does not hinder empirical use:
• Individual initiative: 61% of employees already use AI tools autonomously to streamline their daily tasks.
• Corporate lag: This adoption occurs informally in most cases, given that only 6% of Mexican companies have official policies or platforms that promote its implementation, and even 7% explicitly discourage its use.
• Emotional predisposition: Far from reflecting fear or resistance, the predominant emotions of talent towards AI are curiosity (37%) and enthusiasm (27%). The desire for adaptation is so high that 90% of respondents explicitly state that they would like to receive formal training from their employers.
The generational gap in adoption
The speed of assimilation of these platforms exposes very clear demographic differences within workplaces. According to WeWork's report on labor evolution, the daily assimilation of AI is divided as follows among the different generations:
• Centennials (Generation Z): Lead adoption with 60% daily use.
• Millennials: Are in an intermediate position with 50%.
• Generation X: Records the lowest adoption, reaching only 41%.
Given this disparity, Claudio Hidalgo, president of WeWork for Latin America, highlights the relevance of collaborative workspaces and coworking to foster direct feedback and accelerate shared learning between generations.
"The coexistence of different profiles and generations can facilitate the transfer of knowledge, reduce adoption gaps, and strengthen a culture of continuous learning," he concludes.
From the perspective of next+, the joint study by WeWork and PageGroup reveals a critical "governance vacuum" in the Mexican corporate ecosystem. While employees empirically introduce AI tools into company networks, directly assuming information security risks without a framework to regulate their use, corporate leaders are missing the opportunity to channel this organic curiosity into real productivity gains. The true challenge for human resources departments is not to acquire software licenses, but to structure formal training programs that transform basic literacy into strategic and competitive long-term capabilities.