The one skill that separates people who get smarter with AI from everyone else — FORTUNE
March 21, 2026, 8:59 AM ET courtesy of the NeuroLeadership Institute After three years of widespread generative AI adoption, our data reveals only a small percentage of U.S. employees use AI in such a way that it enhances their thinking. Most workers either resist the technology entirely or use it passively. A small group — call them fluent users — does something fundamentally different. So, what sets them apart? It’s not IQ. It’s not a technical skill. When we ask people how they’re using AI to