McKinsey on the AI Talent Bottleneck: 46% of Executives Cite Skills Gaps as Their Top Barrier

McKinsey's 2025 research found that 46% of executives say talent skill gaps are the primary reason their AI initiatives are too slow. Here's what skills are actually in short supply and what to do about it.

Assemble Teams AI Team ·2026 ·1 min read • INTELLIGENCE BRIEF

46%

of CxOs cite talent skill gaps as their number-one AI adoption barrier. Source: McKinsey Superagency in the Workplace, January 2025.

This article covers the intersection of AI, autonomous agents, and STEM mission work. Full content available on the GameChangers platform.

The AI & Agents category tracks how artificial intelligence is reshaping the work of STEM professionals — from DARPA research programs to the specific ways Mission Intelligence Agents change the operational overhead of running a program.

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Mission Intelligence Agents are available on Professional and Expert plans. Learn how they work or read the Mission Playbook to understand when to deploy one.