The AI Skills Gap: Singapore's C-Suites Are Missing the Mark

The AI revolution is coming, and Singapore's businesses are buzzing with excitement and trepidation. A new study by Alteryx, a leading player in AI for enterprise analytics, reveals a workforce on the cusp of transformation—but not necessarily prepared for it.

C-Suite shakeup: The rise of the chief AI officer

Forget CFOs and CTOs; the hot new title in town could be CAIO—Chief AI Officer. According to the research Defining the Enterprise of the Future, over half of Singaporean business leaders predict this role will be essential to navigate the AI landscape. However, only a handful of companies globally have one on board. The race is on to find those who can bridge the gap between AI strategy and real-world business applications.

Interestingly, there is less emphasis on "AI whisperers" and prompt engineers, roles focused on human-AI interaction—even though over half of respondents anticipate these roles becoming crucial as AI adoption grows.

This shift will also reshape traditional IT and data teams. The research highlighted skills like database administration and repetitive coding that might become obsolete while the need for decentralized, collaborative data teams grows.

“The rapid rise of AI requires business leaders to build and shape the future workforce now to thrive or risk lagging behind in a future transformed by a seismic shift in the skills needed for the era of intelligence,” said Libby Duane-Adams, chief advocacy officer at Alteryx.

The soft skills disconnect

While technical skills are undeniably essential, the research found a surprising lack of focus on "soft skills." Creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence are consistently cited as the most valuable human skills in an AI world. Yet, only a tiny percentage of businesses prioritize hiring them.

“Not all employees need to become data scientists,” said Duane-Adams. “It’s about championing cultures of creative problem-solving, learning to look at business problems through an analytic lens, and collaborating across all levels to empower employees to use data in everyday roles.”  

Duane-Adams further emphasized that continuous investment in upskilling is vital to creating a workforce where everyone can "speak data" and leverage AI responsibly.

A call for action

The Alteryx research paints a stark picture: while businesses acknowledge the importance of AI, they're falling short in preparing their workforce. If this trend continues, we risk not only hindering AI progress but also creating a generation of workers ill-equipped for the jobs of the future.

The time to invest in critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence isn't tomorrow—it's right now.

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