Research Foundation
Built on Research, Not Buzzwords
Joring's measurement framework is grounded in peer-reviewed AI fluency research. Every signal, every dimension, and every coaching recommendation is evidence-based.
Peer-reviewed research behind every signal
AI literacy framework
Long and Magerko's foundational 2020 paper established the academic framework for AI literacy, defining the competencies people need to critically evaluate and effectively collaborate with AI technologies. Joring's fluency dimensions build on this foundation.
Long, D., & Magerko, B. (2020). “What is AI Literacy? Competencies and Design Considerations.” CHI 2020.
The coaching effect
Harvard and BCG researchers studied 758 consultants using AI. Below-average performers improved 43% with proper support. But for tasks outside AI's capabilities, users performed 19 percentage points worse with AI than without it. The finding: coaching must teach both when to use AI and when not to. This is why Joring measures Judgment as a core dimension.
Dell'Acqua, F., et al. (2023). “Navigating the Jagged Technological Frontier.” Harvard Business School.
Iteration changes outcomes
Anthropic's AI Fluency Index found that people who iterate with AI, rather than accepting first-pass output, are 5.6x more likely to catch reasoning errors. Iteration is a core Command behavior that Joring measures and coaches.
Anthropic. (2026). “AI Fluency Index.” February 2026.
Literacy training delivers measurable results
Microsoft Research showed that students who received AI literacy instruction were 64.5% faster and improved from B+ to A quality on professional tasks. The evidence: structured coaching produces measurable, repeatable improvement.
Microsoft Research. (2025). AI Literacy Training Study.
61 signals. Three dimensions. One score.
Joring analyzes 61 behavioral signals from your AI conversations. These signals are distilled into three research-backed dimensions that together form your AI fluency score (0-100).
Craft
Prompt Quality
How well you communicate with AI. Context, specificity, structure, and clarity. Better prompts produce better output.
Providing context about your role and goals. Structuring multi-step requests. Being specific about format and constraints.
Command
Human Agency
How actively you direct AI rather than passively accepting output. Iteration, critical evaluation, and editorial judgment.
Iterating on AI output rather than accepting the first response. Asking follow-up questions. Editing and refining AI suggestions.
Judgment
Appropriate Reliance
How well you match AI capabilities to task requirements. Knowing when to trust, when to verify, and when to override.
Verifying factual claims. Recognizing when AI is outside its capability frontier. Using AI for augmentation, not replacement.
The evidence, with full sources
ROI Crisis
95% of generative AI implementations fall short of measurable ROI
MIT NANDA Initiative, July 2025
60% of companies generate no material value; only 5% achieve value at scale
BCG, “The Widening AI Value Gap,” September 2025
80% of organizations see no measurable AI impact; only 6% are high performers
McKinsey State of AI, March 2025
Budget Misallocation
93% of AI budgets go to technology, 7% to people
Deloitte CTO, Fortune, December 2025
Board Pressure
98% of CIOs face increased pressure to demonstrate AI ROI
Dataiku/Harris Poll (600 CIOs), December 2025
71% believe budgets will freeze without results by mid-2026
Dataiku/Harris Poll, December 2025
Coaching Works
Below-average performers improved 43% with AI coaching
Harvard/BCG (Dell'Acqua et al.), 2023
AI literacy training = 64.5% faster, B+ to A quality
Microsoft Research, 2025
People who iterate are 5.6x more likely to catch reasoning errors
Anthropic AI Fluency Index, February 2026
Structured prompt training: 6.60 vs. 4.94 (unstructured) vs. 4.28 (control)
ScienceDirect, 2025
Skills Gap
79% of employees feel unprepared to use AI at work
BrightHorizons/EdAssist, 2025
Only 39% of AI users have received any company training
Microsoft WTI, 2024
78% bring their own AI tools with no guidance
Microsoft WTI, 2024
Opportunity
Customer service, marketing, and sales are top 3 AI investment priorities
Microsoft WTI, 2025
75% of generative AI's $2.6-4.4T annual value in customer ops, marketing/sales, SW eng, R&D
McKinsey, 2023
56% wage premium for AI skills, doubled in one year
PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer, June 2025
Regulatory
EU AI Act Article 4: mandatory AI literacy for all deployers
EU AI Act, Enforcement August 2, 2026