Introduction
AI training for administrative professionals has officially crossed the line from “emerging trend” to everyday workplace expectation. Yet while organizations are racing ahead with adoption, assistants are being left with a growing confidence gap.
In the 2026 Administrative Training Needs Survey, completed by more than 800 administrative and executive assistants, AI ranked as the #1 area where professionals want training—and the skill they feel least confident performing. This insight was echoed again during a recent Office Dynamics webinar attended by over 700 assistants, where questions and chat comments revealed widespread uncertainty, hesitation, and concern about using AI appropriately at work.
The message is clear:
Administrative professionals are ready for AI, but they want guidance, not hype.
What the 2026 Survey Revealed About AI Confidence
The data tells a compelling story:
- 26% of respondents said AI is the skill they feel least confident performing
- 34.7% ranked AI as their top training priority
- 44.5% selected AI as one of the top three skills for career growth
Clearly, AI is now seen as an essential workplace skill, one that assistants are eager to master.
These survey results placed AI above communication, leadership, and productivity, categories that have historically dominated training requests.
What’s driving this shift?
What Assistants Are Really Saying About AI
During our January webinar, assistants shared candid concerns that added depth to the survey results:
- High curiosity paired with uncertainty
- Fear of falling behind peers and expectations
- Unclear boundaries about what AI should and should not be used for
- Low confidence explaining AI’s value to executives
- Anxiety about making mistakes with confidential information
This is not resistance.
This is responsibility.
Administrative professionals understand the power of AI as a tool to enhance productivity, and they also understand the risk of using it incorrectly.
Why Generic AI Training Isn’t Working for Assistants
Most of today’s AI training for administrative professionals falls into one of two categories:
- Tool-heavy tutorials that assume technical confidence
- Broad thought leadership that ignores role-specific realities
Neither goes beyond AI basics to addresses the real AI challenges assistants face, such as:
- Executive trust
- Confidential data
- Professional credibility
- Judgment and discretion
AI in an administrative role isn’t about replacing human decision-making, it’s about supporting it.
What Administrative Professionals Actually Need From AI Training
The survey and webinar data revealed four consistent needs:
Practical, role-specific use cases
How AI supports calendars, communication, research, and preparation, not generic examples.Clear boundaries
When AI is appropriate, when it is not, and how to protect confidentiality.Human judgment first
AI as an assistant, not a replacement for experience, intuition, or accountability.Executive-ready language
How to talk about AI confidently without sounding inexperienced or overconfident.
This is where true AI confidence is built.
Why AI Literacy Is Now a Career Differentiator
In 2026, AI literacy is becoming part of every assistant’s role, and part of their professional presence.
Administrative professionals who can:
- Use AI responsibly
- Explain its value clearly
- Apply it strategically
are positioning themselves as modern, forward-thinking partners, not just task managers.
This is not about mastering every tool.
It’s about mastering when and why to use AI.
Learn AI the Right Way
Built for Administrative Professionals
Fall in Love With AI was designed specifically to address the AI confidence gap revealed in our survey and webinar conversations. This assistant-focused training emphasizes clarity, boundaries, and professional judgment, without overwhelm. The 2026 program features an all-new lineup of speakers and topics, ensuring content is current, relevant, and practical, even for those who attended last year.
Conclusion
The takeaway from the 2026 survey is not that assistants are behind, it’s that they are thoughtful, aware, and ready to learn.
AI training for administrative professionals is no longer optional.
Confidence is now the differentiator.
And with the right guidance, administrative professionals are more than capable of leading the way.