Professionals exaggerate AI skills on resumes, study finds

Artificial intelligence is no longer a differentiator limited to tech specialists. Tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and other generative systems are now part of daily life across various fields, increasing the pressure to demonstrate expertise in them.

A 2025 survey by Pluralsight, conducted with 1,200 professionals and tech decision-makers in the U.S. and UK, found that 79% of tech professionals admitted to pretending to know more about AI than they actually do. Among senior executives, this figure rose to 91%. Another survey, conducted in 2026 by Express Employment Professionals in partnership with Harris Poll, revealed that 86% of U.S. hiring managers believe AI has made it easier to exaggerate skills on resumes.

Why has AI become such a valuable asset?

LinkedIn data published in 2025 showed that AI literacy was among the fastest-growing skills for professionals and companies. The platform also estimated that 70% of skills used in most jobs could change by 2030, with AI being a key driver of this transformation. In practice, including “AI” on a resume has become a way to show professional up-to-date skills, but the problem arises when the term replaces actual experience.

Does including ChatGPT on a resume mean you know how to use AI?

Not necessarily. There’s a difference between using a tool occasionally and integrating it into a work process. Asking ChatGPT to summarize a text, for example, doesn’t demonstrate mastery of generative AI.

A professional who actually uses the technology in their role can explain:

• which tool they use;
• in which tasks they apply AI;
• how they verify the answers;
• how much time or work they were able to save;
• what limitations they encountered.

How to describe AI on a resume without exaggerating

One way to avoid this problem is to replace generic statements with concrete examples. Instead of writing “Advanced knowledge of artificial intelligence,” a professional can provide details such as:

Use of generative AI tools for research, information organization, and drafting initial drafts, with human review of the content.

This specific description helps recruiters understand what the candidate actually does with the technology. The same principle applies to tools like Excel, Power BI, or management software: knowing how to open a platform doesn’t mean you master its features.

What do companies expect from those who claim to know AI?

A study by Microsoft and LinkedIn found that 66% of leaders surveyed would not hire someone without AI skills, while 71% said they would prefer a less experienced candidate with those skills over a more experienced professional without them. More recently, Microsoft analyzed Copilot usage data and surveyed 20,000 workers who use AI in ten countries. The 2026 study found that quality control of responses and critical thinking are among the most important human skills for AI users.

In this context, simply listing tools on a resume may not be enough. Knowing how to use AI involves judgment, review, and the ability to decide when the technology should or shouldn’t be used for a task. During an interview, a professional may be asked to provide an example, explain the process used, or perform a practical task. Knowing the basics, understanding the limitations of the tools, and having real examples of application may be more important than accumulating keywords.