You need an AI Team and an AI Lead

by Ivo Bernardo

The world as we know it is undergoing a seismic shift, and at the heart of it all is Artificial Intelligence (AI). It's not just another buzzword or passing trend; it's a game-changer that's reshaping industries, processes, and the way we live and work.

If you're still skeptical, consider this: we're at a critical moment similar to the dawn of the industrial revolution or the advent of electricity. AI isn't just a passing fad; it's here to stay, and its impact will be felt across every aspect of society.

Don't believe me?

Just look at the giants of different industries. Microsoft, Nike, Morgan Stanley—even the US Defense Department—they're all doubling down on AI, particularly when it comes to hire AI leadership. These aren't just tech companies; they're organizations respected in their fields, and they understand the critical aspect that AI will have in the organizations for the future.

So.. Why Do You Need an AI Team?

Even if you are convinced that AI will completely transform the world, you still may not be convinced that you need it for your business. So, why would you go through the hassle of building/hiring an AI team?

  1. Competitive Advantage: An AI team equipped with technical skills and expertise will enable your business to stay ahead of the AI curve.
  2. Efficiency and Productivity: AI has the power to automate routine tasks and boost efficiency across the board. It will be a new form of "energy" and your team can use this "energy" to drive productivity and innovation.
  3. Innovation and Adaptability: The pace of technological change is accelerating, and businesses must adapt or risk being left behind. An AI team can help foster a culture of innovation within your organization, continuously exploring new opportunities and pushing the boundaries of what's possible.
  4. Future-Proofing: The pace of technological innovation is absolutely insane as we speak. As AI continues to evolve, so too will the skills and capabilities required to harness its full potential. By investing in an AI team now, you're not just preparing for the challenges of today—you're future-proofing your business for whatever tomorrow may bring.

Also, in these fast-paced times, there's no shortage of self-proclaimed AI experts peddling snake oil. AI knowledge requires a blend of engineering, statistics and math skills, regardless of how you want to apply AI. You have to hire people that know the ins and outs of Artificial Intelligence algorithms and know how to manage the errors that these algorithms produce.

With the right team in place—a team grounded in both technical prowess and business acumen—you can navigate the AI landscape much better.

The Big Catch - It's hard and requires a lead

Building an AI team is extremely hard. Talent is hard find, and when you find it you need to keep it motivated, otherwise they leave. Also, you want to do this while you keep serving your customers and making sure that you continue to provide valuable products or services to your stakeholders. The latter is always the priority making companies building half-baked AI teams or teams with lack of AI leadership that end up not creating the value that most stakeholders are expected.

And most importantly, AI and Machine Learning is not software engineering. This diagram from "Designing Machine Learning Systems" explains it quite well:

Traditional Software vs. Machine Learning - Designing Machine Learning Systems Page 5

Machine Learning is one of the backbones of Artificial Intelligence, particularly how these systems are able to learn from data. The fact that you have to care about finding and implementing patterns requires a different set of skills specifically related to AI, therefore hiring an AI lead is not an easy feat as well.

At DareData, we've seen this before: hiring technical Machine Learning people should only be done when you have a very good technical AI Lead ready to guide them. If you don't, turnover will be high and the team will be lost, as they will be majorly focused on technical tasks and not in embedding AI onto the business.

And hiring an AI lead it's not easy, for a multitude of reasons:

  • It requires a truly remarkable set of skills that are very hard to find: Communication, leadership, empathy, negotiation, technical knowledge on ML and AI and eagerness to keep learning about the area as new research comes up.
  • It's very expensive.
  • Without ML and AI expertise, you won't be able to design a hiring process that will choose the right candidate.

Beyond FOMO, It's About Seizing Opportunity:

The fear of missing out (FOMO) on AI is real, but it's not just about keeping up with the Joneses. It's about seizing the opportunity to transform your business, drive innovation, and create a future that's smarter, more efficient, and more responsive to the needs of your customers.

With AI, the possibilities are endless. Whether you're in retail, finance, healthcare, or manufacturing, there's a wealth of opportunities waiting to be unlocked. But to truly harness the power of AI, you need more than just technology—you need a team of experts who understand your business inside and out, who can tailor AI solutions to your specific needs, and who can help you navigate the complexities of implementation and deployment.

Conclusion:

So, are you ready to embrace the future, or will you be left behind? The choice is yours, but remember: in the age of AI, the only thing worse than missing out is not even realizing what you're missing.

At DareData, we help businesses become truly data-driven and embed AI systems into their day-to-day. And we can do it in multiple ways:

  • Augment your current AI team with AI Lead capabilities.
  • Kickstart your AI initiatives by acting as your internal AI team and train your future team.
  • Helping you develop a sustainable, realistic yet ambitious AI roadmap.

We're passionate about AI and data and more than suppliers, we want to be your partner. Contact me at ivo@daredata.engineering or schedule your call using my calendly link.