The AI Revolution is Here: Employers Must Prepare for the AI-Driven Future

The age of AI is officially here, and the business landscape is rapidly evolving. Keeping pace with these technological innovations is a formidable challenge, but failing to act now could be costly.   

IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna emphasized the profound impact of generative AI on jobs, noting that as AI takes over the lower half of cognitive work, critical thinking skills will become increasingly essential across all domains.  

Organizations all around the globe are feeling the pressure.  

According to a recent Salesforce survey, an overwhelming 60% of IT professionals in the public sector identified the shortage of artificial intelligence (AI) skills as their primary obstacle in implementing AI initiatives. Employers must act now to future-proof their workforce by upskilling existing employees to close critical AI skills gaps.  But for this, they need to be mindful of what AI competencies they require to reach their business goals.  

Aligning Workforce Skills with AI Advancements

Info-Tech Research Group's new research blueprint underscores the critical need for organizations to align their IT workforce with ongoing AI advancements. The firm provides practical insights to help IT leaders proactively address skill gaps and seamlessly integrate AI technologies, thereby empowering organizations to stay competitive in the dynamic digital landscape while fostering talent development and strategic alignment in the age of Exponential IT.

In its latest blueprint, Info-Tech outlines a methodology to help IT leaders identify and build essential AI skills. This involves:

• Defining AI Competency Needs: Establish the necessary knowledge, skills, and attributes aligned with business goals.
• Assessing the AI Skill Gap: Evaluate current skill levels by gathering insights from experts and leaders to identify and prioritize gaps.
• Addressing the AI Skills Gap: Develop a plan to close these gaps through training, on-the-job learning, reskilling, upskilling, mentoring, hiring new talent, outsourcing, or flexible staffing.  

"AI integration is not just about adopting cutting-edge technologies; it's about strategically aligning the workforce with technological advancements," said Heather Leier-Murray, Research Director at Info-Tech Research Group. "By using AI strategies and use cases to identify the competencies required for a smooth transition to an AI-enhanced workforce, organizations can proactively address any gaps through upskilling or reskilling existing employees or by strategically hiring new talent."

 As AI continues to revolutionize industries, the need for a strategic approach to workforce development becomes more critical. By proactively addressing AI skill gaps and fostering an environment of continuous learning and development, organizations can not only stay competitive but also thrive in the age of AI.