Science & Technology · 5 Intermediate · September 9, 2026

Can AI Skills Help You Get Promoted at Work?

Photo: RDNE Stock project via Pexels

Listen

Vocabulary

promotion /prəˈmoʊʃən/ noun

a better job with higher pay and more responsibility

She got a promotion and now manages a team of five people.

artificial intelligence /ɑrˈtɪfɪʃəl ɪnˈtelɪdʒəns/ noun

computer technology that can think and learn like a person

Artificial intelligence can help doctors find diseases in X-rays.

access /ˈækses/ noun

the ability to use or reach something

Workers need internet access to use AI tools at home.

skill /skɪl/ noun

an ability to do something well because of training and practice

Learning to write code is a valuable computer skill.

deserve /dɪˈzɜrv/ verb

to earn something because you worked hard or did good things

Hard workers deserve fair pay and good working conditions.

fair /fer/ adjective

treating all people equally and honestly

A fair promotion system gives everyone equal chances to succeed.

Article

Many companies are changing how they decide who gets promoted. Now, some bosses want their workers to use artificial intelligence, or AI, as part of their jobs. If employees learn to work with AI tools, they may have a better chance to move up in their company. But is this fair to everyone?

Why Companies Like AI Users

Companies think AI tools help workers do their jobs faster and better. A worker who uses AI can finish projects more quickly. This saves the company money and time. So managers believe that workers who learn AI deserve to get promoted first. They want their best employees to be the leaders of tomorrow.

Possible Problems

However, not all workers have the same chance to learn AI. Some people get free training at work. Other people must pay for classes by themselves. Older workers might feel uncomfortable learning new technology. Workers in poor countries might not have access to the same AI tools. This could make promotions unfair for some people.

Different Opinions

Some experts say AI skills should matter for promotions. They believe the world is changing fast, and companies need modern workers. Other experts disagree. They say a person's hard work and good ideas should matter more than technology skills. They worry that making AI required for promotions will hurt workers who cannot learn it easily.

What Should Happen?

Many people think companies should help all workers learn AI, not just some. Free training and support would make things more fair. Workers should also have time to learn these new skills at work. When everyone has equal chances, promotions based on AI skills can be fairer for all employees.

Discussion Questions

Do you think AI skills should be important for getting a better job? Why or why not?
Have you learned a new technology tool? How did you feel about learning it?
What other skills do you think are important for promotions besides AI?
Should companies give free AI training to all workers, or should workers learn it alone?
What makes a promotion system fair in your opinion?

Open the full interactive lesson with tap-to-hear on every word →

Ready to speak English with real confidence?

Work 1-on-1 with Digby R. Kerr.

Claim Your Free 30-Min Class