Business
How CIOs can attract top AI talent without spending billions
Editor’s note: The following is a guest post from Kjell Carlsson, VP analyst at Gartner.
Tech giants might be trying to lure AI researchers with mind-boggling compensation packages, but everyone else needs affordable AI talent.
To successfully drive value with AI, organizations need AI leadership, data scientists, AI engineers, product managers and other talent. CIOs need this talent to identify the best AI opportunities across the business, apply AI tools, integrate the features across business applications and, above all, create differentiated, transformative AI solutions tailored for specific use cases.
But the question remains: How can CIOs compete for this talent against the allure of startups and tech giants that offer millions of dollars in compensation packages?
The shortage of experienced AI talent is real. In a recent Gartner survey, only 17% of firms report having enough qualified AI talent. Further, a Gartner Peer Community poll showed nearly half of respondents found that the costs associated with talent attraction reduced the impact of AI projects.
The good news is that most organizations are far better equipped to succeed in the war for AI talent than they realize. With the right strategy and leadership, all organizations can punch above their weight, hiring and retaining AI teams that deliver extraordinary results.
To get there, it’s critical to understand business needs, look for the right attributes, build a talent pipeline and gain insight into what makes the organization the place where you want to work.
Finding high-potential AI talent
AI is still so new that most organizations don’t know what kind of talent they actually need. Rather than figure this out, leaders are tempted to rely on generic indicators of AI success, including experience at top tech companies, senior titles and degrees from elite institutions.
But this is a losing strategy in the search for affordable AI talent. These individuals are costly and hard to retain.
Instead, organizations should recruit for the specific, actual and upcoming needs of their AI projects. A specialist in fine-tuning large language models isn’t needed if all they have to work with is a low-code tool for developing simple chatbots. Knowledge of agent-to-agent protocols is exciting, but experience building retrieval augmented generation solutions will likely be more immediately useful.
Of course, CIOs will need to invest in the hard work of creating a detailed AI strategy and mapping out planned AI projects, but the effort will more than pay for itself in terms of the ability to hire effectively, not to mention the ability to execute AI initiatives generally.
When it comes to experience, the reality is that there just aren’t enough candidates with substantial real-world AI experience. Everyone will need to continuously learn new skills to keep up with the rapidly changing AI landscape.
Companies should recruit candidates who have the aptitude, curiosity and entrepreneurial mindset to learn and apply both the technical and interpersonal skills necessary for success. With a strong onboarding and training program, an organization can create its own AI talent in a cost-effective way.
Communicate the company’s value proposition
Like everyone else, AI talent seeks purpose-driven work. Given that an organization at this stage has been successful enough to be able to invest in an AI team, odds are that it has plenty of unique aspects that make it a compelling place to work.
It’s key to highlight these positive attributes as well as the exciting projects the team will be tackling, the unique mandate they’ll help drive forward, the supportive community, the rich data resources or cutting-edge tools at their disposal and the opportunity to drive real-world impact.
Also, companies can’t wait for talent to come to them. Partnerships with universities and professional societies can help access emerging talent pools. Internships and hackathons can help engage potential hires early and provide invaluable insight into their skills.
Existing staff is an asset, too. Upskilling business analysts, data engineers or software developers through targeted training programs can unlock their AI potential while reinforcing loyalty among employees who already understand the business context. This multipronged approach lets CIOs access motivated individuals who are excited to contribute as AI becomes central to company strategy.
Compete smarter for AI talent
The race for top AI talent is only growing more intense. Winners will be those who play to their strengths.
Organizations must go beyond conventional recruiting tactics by actively showcasing their mission, culture and opportunities for meaningful impact including addressing hot-button issues like AI’s environmental footprint or social good.
Leaders need to communicate why their work matters not just to shareholders but also to the talent they hope to attract.
Proactive organizations seize market opportunities as they arise, whether it’s tapping into fresh pools of skilled professionals during industry layoffs or welcoming disillusioned experts seeking greater flexibility in hybrid or remote roles. The best candidates aren’t chasing paychecks. They want collaboration with smart colleagues, engaging projects that stretch their abilities, and a chance to make a real difference for customers, employees or society at large.
And if an organization really doesn’t have anything to attract eager AI talent, CIOs just might want to consider a career change too.
Keep up to Date with Latin American VC, Startups News
At a time when artificial intelligence (AI) is redefining work, ISDI, Spain’s digital business school, and Microsoft have formed an alliance to incorporate the real-world use of generative AI into executive training.
According to Microsoft’s Workplace Trends Report, 50% of executives in countries like Spain believe that training their teams in the use of AI will be key in the next five years.
For this reason, ISDI says it is seeking to connect theory and practice in an academic environment that adapts to the challenges of digital transformation.
Microsoft, for its part, brings its technological expertise so that artificial intelligence becomes a tangible, competitive resource for MBA grads.
“We want to train complete professionals, capable of leading business transformation in a context marked by AI,” said Basola Vallés, Executive Director of ISDI, through a press release.
The business school has faculty and alumni from around the world, including Latin America, and has an international campus in Mexico.
Creating AI Agents
The module, titled Crea tu Agente IA (Create your AI Agent), unfolds over five milestones in the master’s degree: from agent activation in Microsoft’s Copilot Studio, to application in real projects, simulation of strategic scenarios and career development.
Upon completion, each participant will have a trained and operational AI agent ready to accompany the student beyond the classroom. This practical approach contrasts with theory-focused programs by integrating AI into the day-to-day work life.
With this initiative, the Executive MBA in Business and Technology (MIB) is positioned as the first Executive MBA in Spain to structurally integrate business, technology, artificial intelligence and human development, according to the university.
Paco Salcedo, president of Microsoft Spain, added: “Our technology is designed for students to turn AI into a real advantage for their organizations”.
The proposal is reinforced with a project linked to business challenges and with an employability component.
A study by LinkedIn and Microsoft reveals that professionals who mention AI in their profiles are 17% more likely to be considered in selection processes.
The impact of the program has already been recognized by several media, which places it amongst the most influential executive master’s programs in Spain.
MIB graduates record an average salary increase of 38% in the year after graduation and 70% job mobility, according to figures shared with Contxto that reflect how the combination of business, technology and now generative AI can transform a career path.
According to a report published by Intel and analyst firm IDC, just 14% of Latin American companies have adopted AI agents in their work processes, putting the region in need of adapting to today’s challenges.
This trend of MBA programs that prioritize the use of generative AI could help to motivate future business leaders in the region and will hopefully boost the adoption figures of this technology in the coming years.
Keep up to Date with Latin American VC, Startups News
Fulcrum (www.fulcrumapp.com) field-focused process and data collection platform for geospatial field processes and data collection recently launched Audio FastFill, a voice-powered, multi-field AI data collection tool.
It integrates advanced AI within the platform to create a textual scribe for field teams, eliminating inefficiencies of manual entry, and allows users in the field to dictate forms naturally and produce richer more actionable data input, with the system understanding and accurately populating fields.
Fulcrum dynamically understands context to populate complex fields like picklists and conditional logic, eliminating inefficiencies of manual entry and simplifying workflow, helping ensure ease of use in demanding environments. It can also dissect one continuous audio file to place all of the information into the correct corresponding fields and input to fields that aren’t text, like numbers or drop-down lists.
Pricing: structure not actual cost, free demo, free trial.
AIPhone
AIPhone (www.aiphone.ai) is a cross language calling app utilizing AI translation. It translates phone calls in real time—speak in your language and the other party hears it in theirs instantly and vice versa. How it works: you invite anyone via a simple link—no extra app needed for them.
The app, which supports several dozen languages and dialects, is trained to both translate words and understand the context behind them. In addition, it also supports camera translation—snap a photo or select a saved image (e.g. a sign) and get instant translation. It also translates video and voice calls in WhatsApp and other apps.
Pricing: weekly, monthly, annual plans available with free trial package available through X, TikTok, and Facebook.
ServiceMonster
ServiceMonster management software (www.servicemonster.com, 888/901-3300, covered in September 2022 column) recently introduced the ServiceMonster Payments mobile app, which features capabilities that facilitate both immediate branded invoicing that can be sent by email or text and collection of payments via credit cards, debit cards, and ACH. Suitable for solo operators and multi-crew service businesses, it has the ability to automate reminders and follow-ups. You can store cards on file securely for repeat customers or recurring billing.
ServiceMonster Payments includes built-in surcharging, allowing you to legally pass along credit card processing fees to your customers where permitted by law. Surcharging is automatically configured during setup based on your location. Most credit card and debit card transactions are deposited into your bank account in as little as two business days. The solution Payments offers an integration with QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop. A demo is available.
Plannit
Plannit (www.plannit.io), covered in August 2021 column, recently added a smart call answering system designed to function as a virtual assistant, handling calls when team members are unavailable. The system, which is available 24/7 and has multi-language support, features intelligent call routing, utilizing advanced algorithms to direct calls to appropriate departments or personnel based on predefined criteria.
Users can customize menu options and the software, which can take messages, can be programmed to answer FAQs. It can also qualify and prioritize prospective customers by asking questions and recording their answers and saving them in the messaging center as audio files. The service requires a new phone number acquired by Plannit, but calls to existing business numbers can be redirected for message taking when needed.
Gorilla Desk
Update: Gorilla Desk (www.Gorilladesk.com), initially covered in January 2025 tech column, has several new AI Agents to its platform (both desktop and mobile app) which are designed to heighten proficiency of field service management and handle customer interactions across multiple channels, including SMS, Web Chat, VOIP phone, and client portals.
The new capabilities, available on the customer portal and by text message, enable customers to book services 24/7, with the solution streamlining and automating the entire process, from inquiry to booking and confirmation, as well as route planning and optimization.
How it works: you embed your AI agent options directly on your web site and, as desired, your customer initiates the process by making contact with your embedded company AI receptionist through one of those portals, facilitating making, logging, and finding all calls without jumping among apps; the Client Portal Agent enables customers to request new work securely and view previous documents anytime. Gorilla Desk will notify you via in-app and email alerts whenever a new work request is submitted.
There are two types of AI conversations: static and dynamic. Static conversations provide general Q&As with informational responses. Dynamic conversations involve the system taking actions, such as capturing new lead info or scheduling a pending booking. (Pricing: $1.00 per completed static conversation, $1.75 per completed dynamic conversation.)
Gorilla Desk also has four new agents in the works: Kong AI (Supreme Intelligence), acting as the central intelligence, which will provide advanced analytics and generate custom reports; Mantis AI (Ops & Admin), which will automate the role of administrator and help run day-to-day operational workflows flawlessly; Atrax AI, which will help you deploy your website, aiding in page generation and optimization; Lotus AI (Customer Sentiment), which focuses on delivering analysis of customer standpoint so you know what conversations need real human attention; and SMS & Customer Portal Agents, enabling 24/7 handling of incoming customer SMS messages their conversations with your AI.
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