Esteban Sancho thinks that localised AI hubs could be the logical next step for governments, innovators and businesses.
For the majority of us, whether you are an AI nay-sayer, a part-time or frequent user, or a professional who has built their career around artificial intelligence, advanced technologies come with some heavy conversations. Typically around issues such as safety, privacy, equal access and regulation.
For this reason, AI can be an incredibly divisive topic, even among people who believe in its potential. But, for Esteban Sancho, the North America CTO at software company Globant, an important next step for those who have invested their professional lives into AI, will be the development of regional AI hubs that train and retain local experts.
“Our strategy is to be a key catalyst in this movement,” said Sancho. “We are actively partnering with local governments, universities and businesses to help build the infrastructure for these AI hubs.”
He added that by integrating AI into the community, organisations have the power to cultivate talent from the ground up, creating a “sustainable pipeline of experts who are not only technically proficient but also deeply understand the local market dynamics”.
By building a bridge between global AI capabilities and the realities of local business needs, Sancho explained, there is the possibility for a strategic shift where AI innovators no longer simply provide a service. Rather, they can create a culture of AI usage that is supported and embedded within an organisation.
Eclectic ecosystem
And on a wider scale, by collaborating with government bodies, universities and institutions, you create a localised ecosystem that recognises the gaps in skill and as a result, has the know-how to develop the next wave of talented professionals.
“Success requires a mature ecosystem of specialised skills, strategic oversight and cultural readiness that is incredibly difficult for a company to build from scratch,” said Sancho.
“A true ‘homegrown’ pipeline, developed by a focused partner, is the answer. By actively co-creating these talent hubs with universities and local governments, we are building a stable foundation of expertise.”
For Sancho, this could perhaps mitigate some of the challenges that persist in the AI space. For example he noted the difficulty in moving AI technologies from a promising pilot to a scalable business function, capable of having a wider impact.
Citing an MIT report that indicated there is a potential 95pc failure rate for early-stage enterprise AI solutions, he said, this isn’t solely a technical problem, rather it is a convergence of three core issues.
“The scarcity of specialised talent, the difficulty of embedding AI into business culture and a lack of strategic focus. Companies have access to powerful tools, but without the right partner to help deploy, govern and scale them, they struggle to see a clear return on investment.”
An AI future?
The current global AI landscape, while dynamic and creative, is also uneven, as forward momentum and the hurried development of generative AI has led to unbalanced AI adoption across companies and countries.
“Mature world markets are experimenting by integrating AI into complex workflows, while emerging markets are building basic capabilities to help potentially leapfrog legacy systems.
“Simultaneously, governments are intervening with regulations and strategies to ensure AI is developed in a responsible manner, while businesses are trying to balance innovation with ethical guardrails.”
But while AI is not the solution to every organisational problem that rears its head, the creation of localised AI hubs, if supported by companies, communities, innovators and governments, has real potential. Especially in generating job opportunities for skilled people, supporting local business and promoting inclusion and the democratisation of AI.
By giving time and resources to a project or programme that lies at the centre of a community, where the goal is to create a legacy and manifest opportunities for the people coming up behind, there is often a stronger commitment to that community, a halt to the ‘brain drain’ and a far-reaching domino effect.
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