Leadership Strategies surveyed 255 facilitators, L&D leaders, and executives to find out. The data reveals a significant gap between belief and action — and a clear picture of where the profession stands.
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of respondents already use AI in facilitation work
are independent facilitators — the single largest group
completed responses across roles, org types, and industries
What the data shows
The full report unpacks each finding in detail. Here's what the data is pointing toward.
A striking gap exists between how important facilitators believe AI will be — and how many are actually prepared to act on that belief. The report shows exactly where hesitation lives.
Confidence in using AI for prep and documentation is relatively high. Confidence for real-time, in-session support is the clear outlier — by a wide margin.
Data privacy, confidentiality, and concerns about quality and accuracy outrank skills gaps as the primary barriers to AI adoption. The profession isn't struggling to learn — it's struggling to trust.
"The profession isn't asking can we use AI — it's asking should we, and how do we do it responsibly. That's a fundamentally different question, and it deserves a fundamentally different answer."
— Michael Wilkinson, Founder, Leadership Strategies
The data shows broad agreement that AI will create a competitive edge for skilled facilitators — and near-unanimous rejection of the idea that it replaces the human role.
Very few organizations have formal AI standards, training plans, or governance for facilitation use. Most are in an early, informal stage — which creates both risk and opportunity.
Who this report is for
Understand where your peers stand, where the opportunity gaps are, and how to position your practice for the next phase of the profession.
See how organizations are (and aren't) structuring AI adoption for facilitation — and where the governance gaps create immediate risk.
Get a grounded view of how AI is affecting the meetings, strategic planning sessions, and facilitated conversations your teams depend on.
Get the report
Leadership Strategies has trained more than 35,000 facilitators. This research applies that same rigor to understanding AI's real impact on the profession — not the hype.
Download the Free ReportNo cost. Delivered to your inbox when the report launches in July 2026.