Webinar recap: The AI Action Gap — Why You Are Not Behind (Yet).

On July 1, 2026, Riipen hosted a webinar to explore how small and medium-sized employers can move from AI experimentation to meaningful business progress. Amanda Betts, Riipen’s Vice President of Growth, discussed why many organizations are experiencing an “AI action gap”—the gap between recognizing AI’s importance and knowing how to apply it effectively.

The session explored the challenges preventing companies from moving forward, including uncertainty around where to start, how to identify valuable AI opportunities, and how to build confidence through focused experimentation, human expertise, and collaboration with emerging talent.

Moving beyond AI awareness.

For many businesses, the question is no longer whether AI matters. Employers are seeing competitors experiment with AI, hearing that customers expect faster, more personalized experiences, and exploring how emerging tools can support their teams.

The challenge is knowing what comes next.

Many organizations are asking:

• Where should we begin?
• Which areas of our business could benefit most?
• How do we identify valuable opportunities?
• How do we move beyond testing tools and create real progress?

This gap between AI awareness and AI action is what Riipen refers to as the AI Action Gap.

As Amanda explained:

“The problem is not going to be about awareness. Most employers already know AI matters. The challenge is what comes after awareness.”

The webinar focused on helping employers understand that moving forward with AI does not require having every answer before starting. Instead, progress can begin by identifying real business challenges and using focused projects to learn where AI can create value.

Key takeaway: AI adoption begins when businesses move from asking “What can AI do?” to “Where can AI help us improve?”

Why AI adoption is moving faster than readiness.

AI adoption continues to grow across industries, but many organizations are still determining how to integrate AI into their everyday work.

McKinsey’s 2025 Global AI Survey found that 88% of respondents reported their organizations regularly use AI in at least one business function, up from 78% the previous year. However, only about one-third of organizations reported having begun AI programs, highlighting the difference between experimenting with AI and embedding it into business processes.

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report also found that 86% of employers expect AI and information processing technologies to transform their businesses by 2030, with AI and big data among the fastest-growing skill areas.

This shift is not limited to large organizations. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported that 58% of small businesses used AI for business operations in 2025, more than double the 2023 figure. . - Source

These trends show that businesses are already engaging with AI. The opportunity now is helping teams understand how to connect AI tools with the work that matters most.

Amanda highlighted this distinction during the session: “Experimentation is not the same as readiness.”

AI readiness is not about using every new tool available. It is about understanding where AI fits within a business and where it can create meaningful improvements.

Key takeaway: Businesses are already exploring AI. The next step is turning experimentation into practical applications.

Starting with the business problem, not the technology.

One of the webinar’s central themes was rethinking how businesses approach AI projects.

With so much attention around new AI tools, organizations can feel pressure to start with technology first. However, Amanda encouraged employers to begin with the work itself. “Do not start with the tool. Start with the work.”

Rather than asking which AI platform to use, businesses should first consider:

What business challenge are we trying to improve?

Starting with the problem helps organizations identify realistic opportunities where AI can support existing workflows.

Examples of practical starting points include:

• Reviewing customer feedback.
• Improving content processes.
• Supporting market research.
• Mapping workflow improvements.
• Identifying repetitive tasks that could be streamlined.

These types of projects help businesses build understanding before moving into more complex AI initiatives.

Amanda emphasized that organizations do not need to begin with advanced AI builds to create impact: “The first goal should not be to prove that AI can do everything. The first goal should be to define where AI can help.”

Key takeaway: The strongest first AI projects are tied to real business needs, not just the latest technology.

Combining AI capabilities with human expertise.

The webinar also explored the importance of keeping human expertise at the center of AI adoption.

AI can support many parts of the work, including drafting, summarizing, organizing information, and generating ideas. However, business knowledge, context, and decision-making remain essential.

Amanda described this as a human-in-the-loop approach: “AI can assist the work, but humans define the problem, set the boundaries, review the output, and own the decision.”

This approach recognizes that AI tools can accelerate work, but they do not replace the understanding businesses build through experience.

A strong AI strategy requires both sides:

• AI provides speed, support, and new possibilities.
• People provide context, judgment, and business understanding.

This is also where reverse mentorship creates an opportunity.

As AI changes the definition of expertise, employers and emerging talent can learn from each other. Businesses bring industry knowledge, customer understanding, and strategic priorities. Students bring familiarity with emerging tools, experimentation, and new problem-solving approaches.

The World Economic Forum found that 63% of employers identify skill gaps as a major barrier to business transformation, while 85% plan to prioritize workforce upskilling. - Source

By creating opportunities for collaboration, businesses can build AI capabilities while supporting the development of future talent.

Key takeaway: AI adoption is strongest when technology and human expertise work together.

Five steps for moving from AI interest to action.

To help employers begin applying these ideas, Amanda shared five practical steps for closing the AI Action Gap:

1. Define the business outcome.

Start with the work you want to improve, not the AI tool you want to use.

2. Identify where AI can support the work.

Consider what tasks AI can assist with and where human expertise remains essential.

3. Understand the data and tools involved.

Clarify what information and resources are needed before beginning a project.

4. Build review into the process.

Create opportunities for people to guide the work and evaluate outcomes throughout the project.

5. Capture what you learn.

Use every project as an opportunity to understand what worked, what changed, and what to explore next.

These steps help businesses approach AI as a learning process rather than a one-time transformation.

Key takeaway: AI readiness grows through practical experimentation, reflection, and continuous improvement.

Wrap-up & resources.

The AI Action Gap is not about businesses falling behind. It reflects a broader shift in how organizations are approaching a rapidly changing technology landscape.

The businesses that make progress with AI will not necessarily be the ones with the biggest budgets or the most advanced tools. They will be the ones who understand their business challenges, identify practical opportunities, and create ways for people and technology to work together.

As Amanda shared: “You do not need to know everything about AI. You need to know your business.”

By starting with one workflow, one challenge, or one opportunity for improvement, employers can begin building confidence and discover where AI can create meaningful value.

Want to understand where your organization stands today? Take Riipen’s AI Readiness Self-Assessment to identify your current stage and explore your next step.

Catch a replay of our webinar here.

‍

About the author:

Bisola Ogamba is the Senior Manager of Programs, Communications & Content at Riipen, where she supports program communications and content while leading the organization's events and partnerships initiatives. She is passionate about creating engaging experiences and meaningful collaborations that connect learners, educators, employers, and partners with Riipen's mission. Through strategic communications, impactful events, and strong partnerships, Bisola helps elevate awareness of Riipen's programs and expand access to work-integrated learning opportunities across Canada.