Preventing skill decay as AI use expands

Although many data center operators remain optimistic about the use of AI tools in operations, expectations of AI's ability to reduce human error is declining. According to Uptime Institute's 2026 global survey of data center managers, only 40% of operators identified human error reduction as a potential benefit of AI, which is down 11 percentage points from 2025.

There are valid concerns about how AI tools will influence staff performance — especially as newer AI models manage processes deeper in the operational decision making. Ideally, AI could help the industry manage staff vacancies by simplifying certain roles, enabling organizations to fill entry-level jobs more quickly. However, there are concerns these AI tools can also expose workers to skill decay — an often-overlooked operational risk.