Heartland Forward poll: Respondents unsure how to use AI professionally

More than half of respondents in a new Heartland Forward poll reported having a limited understanding of how to use artificial intelligence (AI) professionally. A growing number of respondents expect employers to provide AI training.

On Tuesday (June 17), the Bentonville-based think-and-do tank released the results of a new poll on the heartland region’s perceptions and attitudes toward AI, an update to its first poll from last year.

The new poll, conducted by Aaru, surveyed 2,000 respondents from the 20 heartland states, including Arkansas. It focused on how respondents feel about AI and offers insights into how public sentiment has changed since the first poll last year.

“The heartland is the third largest economy in the world, and to drive continued economic growth, the heartland must first be connected to affordable high-speed internet and secondly, learn to effectively learn and utilize AI — these are the major economic issues of our time,” said Angie Cooper, president and COO of Heartland Forward. “AI is rapidly changing how people live, work and learn — and yet many heartland communities still do not have access to high-speed internet. We want to ensure that the heartland has the opportunity to lead the nation in harnessing innovation and AI’s potential to transform education and our future workforce for good.”

Following are the new poll highlights.

• More than half of respondents report low understanding of how to use AI professionally, and less than 1% feel highly proficient in how to use these new tools in the workplace, “highlighting a critical skills gap that could hinder workers from fully participating in industries increasingly shaped by AI.”
• Over half (56%) of respondents report anxiety about AI in the workplace, with states like Mississippi and Kentucky showing even higher concern.
• Respondents in Texas have a more optimistic outlook, with nearly 40% of respondents there expressing excitement about AI’s potential, particularly in sectors like agriculture and manufacturing.
• Over 71% of respondents believe employers should offer training on how to use AI tools — up from 56% just 10 months ago.
• The desire for training spans all education levels — from those without a diploma to those with doctorates, “reflecting a realization that AI is no longer a distant technological development but an immediate necessity for professionals across industries,” according to poll results. “Clear communication from elected officials, industry leaders and academics, as well as targeted, industry-specific AI training, will be essential to helping workers understand how to use AI as a tool to improve their productivity, rather than fear AI as a driver for job displacement.”
• The disparity between younger and older generations highlights an “urgent need for targeted educational efforts that can help bridge the generational divide and create an inclusive AI-driven future for all ages.”
• In April 2025, more than 75% of adults aged 35-44 report at least moderate interest in learning about AI, “representing a key demographic for AI-related workforce upskilling and development. This group’s enthusiasm is particularly noteworthy for future regional economic growth, as they are positioned in the workforce at a time when understanding AI will be critical.”
• However, enthusiasm drops significantly among older adults, with nearly 40% of respondents who are at least 65 years old actively expressing disinterest in AI.
• About 35% of respondents are “self-taught” on AI, while 13% had AI taught to them.

In May, Heartland Forward announced a partnership with education technology platform Stemuli to develop an AI learning platform that will help rural students and entrepreneurs acquire AI skills.

Heartland Forward is hosting a series of Salon Dinners across the heartland to better understand community perspectives with state and local officials, investors, philanthropists, and business and education leaders.

“To fully realize AI’s potential, we need to embrace the opportunities it brings,” Cooper said. “By expanding educational pathways, building a strong talent pipeline and bringing together key leaders and stakeholders to help inform new policies, the heartland will lead the way in ensuring the heartland is connected to affordable high-speed internet and in response the heartland can lead in AI adoption and innovation.”