Global enterprises struggling with AI talent shortage

Over a third of global enterprises are finding it difficult to retain or attract essential skills in artificial intelligence (AI), data, and automation. This challenge is jeopardising their optimistic AI ambitions, according to research from an IDC InfoBrief, commissioned by Expereo.

The survey, titled "Enterprise Horizons 2024," involved 650 technology leaders in global enterprises across Europe, the US, and the Asia-Pacific region. It revealed that 35 percent of enterprises are struggling with a critically low supply of AI expertise, even though AI is currently deemed the highest priority for Chief Information Officers (CIOs) worldwide.

Significant hurdles go beyond recruitment issues. Nearly 29 percent of global CIOs reported that their current external technology partners do not possess the necessary capabilities to support AI initiatives. Additionally, 28 percent identified regional discrepancies in the ability to implement AI projects effectively as a major challenge.

Apart from skill gaps, governance and ethical concerns also pose significant obstacles. Approximately 36 percent of respondents cited navigating AI governance and ethics—issues such as regulation, trust, and data protection—as a considerable challenge. These issues potentially could be mitigated with support and guidance from seasoned AI professionals.

Moreover, the survey found that 42 percent of CIOs consider training for new ways of working due to AI advancements as one of the biggest IT challenges in supporting remote and hybrid workforces. Additionally, 39 percent expressed concerns about comprehending how employees utilise AI tools.

Network performance and flexibility further hinder AI implementation at scale. When probed about limitations in their organisations' networks to support large data or AI projects, 38 percent of global respondents pointed to network performance issues, such as application responsiveness or latency. An equivalent percentage mentioned their networks' inability to scale flexibly on demand as a critical problem.

The challenge is not confined to AI talent alone. Networking talent was the second most difficult area to recruit for, with 36 percent of respondents highlighting it as a key issue. The data suggests that organisations are struggling to onboard both AI talent and core infrastructure talent.

Despite these challenges, a cautious optimism prevails. Around 32 percent of CIOs are proceeding cautiously with AI implementation, and 44 percent are enthusiastic and prepared to embark on AI initiatives. Only 8 percent do not feel ready to adopt AI at all. Within the next 12 months, more than a quarter of global respondents (36 percent) anticipate implementing AI initiatives in cybersecurity.

Ben Elms, CEO of Expereo, commented on the findings: "CIOs need to keep pace with market innovations, customer expectations, and fierce competition when it comes to AI, while ensuring they are adopting the technology responsibly and effectively, without cutting corners. This is a difficult act to balance, and without the necessary skills in place, driven by competition for AI and core networking talent, CIOs should look to outsource crucial expertise and partner with the right technology providers that can offer the local expertise and growth initiatives that work for them.

"Networking technology, data strategies, and wider tech infrastructure are all key areas which run adjacent to AI initiatives, which must also not be ignored," he added.