Digital skills and AI adoption transform work and education

Digital literacy and the rise of artificial intelligence are reshaping professional and academic environments. In the workplace, proficiency in office software suites remains essential for productivity, data organization, and effective communication. Tools like Excel are highlighted for their ability to manage complex data, track indicators, and generate reports, reducing professional dependency on others for routine tasks.

In the educational sector, generative AI is seeing rapid, near-universal adoption. In the United Kingdom, student usage is projected to rise from 66% in 2024 to 95% by 2026, with a high percentage of students admitting to using AI for assessed work. Similarly, in Portugal, over 80% of students utilize these tools. While AI demonstrates high competence in specific tasks, concerns remain regarding the potential for humans to stop exercising their own intelligence and the challenges of maintaining academic integrity.