Addressing the skills gap – Are telcos AI ready?

For telcos to get the most out of artificial intelligence (AI), they must not only find the necessary technical skills but also ensure that the entire company understands the value of the technology. My last blog focused on how AI augmentation is the future for telcos because it not only allows them to deliver superior customer experience in an increasingly competitive marketplace, but also helps them cut costs, remain competitive and launch new services across complex ecosystems, from autonomous cars and fleet management to healthcare and beyond. I concluded that the biggest challenge doesn't seem to be the implementation of the technology but the upskilling and retraining of human employees. According to a study from Oracle and Future Workplace, 72% of human resources executives surveyed said their organisations do not provide any AI training programme. Now, that study might not be telco-specific, but it certainly illustrates the challenges that AI brings when implementing it in a business.