It has become an everyday thing. And that raises a crucial question for every organization.
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From niche to mainstream: AI reaches the Flemish workplace
Imec published the 18th edition of the Digimeter today. One of the most striking findings: 43% of Flemish people are now active users of generative AI. That's a jump of 15 percentage points compared to last year, and a threefold increase compared to 2023.
The researchers speak of an "unprecedented speed of penetration". While Netflix or Instagram needed 7 to 10 years to reach 40% market penetration, generative AI hit that threshold in three years. Two out of three Flemish people (64%) have now used it or experimented with it.
The impact on the workplace is already noticeable. 70% of all working people have already experimented with generative AI for work. More than half do so at least monthly. 45% say they can finish work faster. 79% experience time savings, with the majority estimating that at at least half an hour a day.
The flip side: use is growing faster than understanding
Alongside those positive figures, the Digimeter also reveals a worrying pattern. Imec points to a growing skills gap: not everyone who uses AI also understands it.
Only 37% of Flemish people say they know how to use AI effectively to carry out tasks more efficiently. 33% say they don't know how to use generative AI correctly. At the same time, the number of people who say they need training on AI is declining, which may suggest that many underestimate how much they still don't know.
That is exactly the risk for organizations. Tools like Microsoft Copilot are already present in many employees' work environment. But being present is different from understanding, trusting and using it effectively. Anyone who deploys AI without sufficient insight into how it works, what it can do and where its limits lie doesn't just miss out on the productivity gains. They also run a greater risk of errors, of misuse of data, and of a loss of critical thinking.
What does this mean for your organization?
The Digimeter makes clear that AI adoption doesn't happen by itself. Access to tools isn't enough. What matters is whether employees understand how AI fits into their daily work, where it helps them, and where caution is needed.
That calls for targeted guidance, tailored to the organization and the people who work there. At Xylos, we support organizations through that step, with a structured program that turns awareness into concrete application and measurable adoption. Read more about our AI Literacy Program.