How to Mature into an AI-First Organization: A Roadmap Through the 5 Stages

Artificial intelligence is reshaping work faster than most organizations can keep up with. While the buzz around AI has translated into rapid adoption—more than half of knowledge workers use generative AI weekly—most companies are still struggling to build the foundations necessary for sustainable success.

The research by Asana's Work Innovation Lab and Anthropic lays out a clear, actionable path toward AI maturity, helping organizations evolve from experimentation to strategic integration. At the heart of this journey is the "5C" framework: Comprehension, Concerns, Collaboration, Context, and Calibration.

Let's explore how to move through the five stages of AI maturity—and why getting it right is no longer optional.

Stage 1: AI Skepticism

Symptoms: Low awareness, high fear, minimal policy, little to no usage.

Organizations at this stage lack clear understanding of AI's capabilities. Only 2% of employees have basic knowledge of generative AI, and skepticism is high (55%). AI is seen as unreliable, with concerns about job displacement and ethics dominating the narrative.

Actions to take:

Begin foundational education efforts to demystify AI
Address misconceptions by spotlighting safe, ethical, and proven use cases
Identify and support early adopters who are experimenting with AI on their own

Stage 2: AI Activation

Symptoms: Pilots begin, but training and strategy are still ad hoc.

Organizations begin testing AI, often through isolated pilots. Usage is more frequent, but formal guidance remains rare. Only 27% of organizations at this stage have AI usage policies, and concerns about perception (e.g., being seen as lazy or inauthentic) emerge.

Actions to take:

Roll out role-specific AI literacy programs
Promote cultural acceptance of AI as a productivity amplifier, not a shortcut
Create "safe zones" for AI experimentation without fear of failure

Stage 3: AI Experimentation

Symptoms: Broader use cases, growing enthusiasm, but limited structure.

This is a critical inflection point. Employees now use AI across an average of 5.2 tasks, with 66% reporting productivity gains. Organizations start recognizing the need for strategy, yet training and governance are still limited.

Actions to take:

Prioritize the creation of ethical AI principles
Integrate AI into onboarding and performance workflows
Launch internal communities of practice to scale learning and experimentation

Stage 4: AI Scaling

Symptoms: AI becomes embedded into workflows, with policies forming.

By this point, AI is becoming a co-pilot rather than a side tool. 59% of organizations have usage policies, and employee feedback loops start to emerge (74% collect feedback). Still, many lack robust tracking or strategic alignment.

Actions to take:

Establish clear governance structures and AI operating models
Tie AI performance to business objectives and measure ROI
Invest in steerable and interpretable AI tools to ensure user control and trust

Stage 5: AI Maturity

Symptoms: Strategic alignment, full governance, ethical oversight, cultural shift.

Only 7% of organizations have reached this level, where AI is integrated into business strategy and seen as a "teammate" rather than just a tool. At this stage, 93% of employees use AI weekly, and 87% report productivity gains.

Best practices:

Develop enterprise-wide KPIs tied to AI usage and outcomes
Create advanced feedback loops with frontline users to refine systems
Make ethical AI a strategic differentiator in your market

The 5Cs Framework: Your AI Maturity Compass

Progressing through these stages requires attention to five core pillars:

Comprehension – Foster AI literacy through continuous education.

Concerns – Address fears through transparency, interpretability, and reliability.

Collaboration – Reframe AI from a tool to a partner; design workflows accordingly.

Context – Build a strong policy and governance environment.

Calibration – Measure and iterate using structured employee feedback and clear metrics.

Each "C" acts as both a diagnostic and a development tool, helping leaders steer their organizations forward with intention.

Final Thoughts

AI maturity isn't just about technology—it's about mindset, governance, and people. Organizations that embrace this shift thoughtfully will unleash extraordinary gains in productivity, creativity, and employee engagement.

In the words of the report: "Harness this tipping point with a bold strategy, or watch your AI ambitions crumble under the weight of chaos and unfulfilled potential."

The roadmap is clear. Now is the time to move.

This framework is based on the 2024 State of AI at Work research conducted by Asana's Work Innovation Lab in partnership with Anthropic, surveying 5,007 knowledge workers across the United States and United Kingdom.