Most firms in ANZ slow to hire AI leaders as security worries grow
A new report has found that only 12% of organisations plan to recruit an artificial intelligence specialist or leader in the next 12 to 18 months.
The research, conducted and released by Avec, collected responses from more than 850 business leaders and technology professionals across various sectors in Australia and New Zealand. The survey explored six central topics: perception, current use and adoption, strategy and leadership, skills and enablement, barriers and challenges, and agentic AI.
Amongst the survey's notable findings, a majority of organisations said that artificial intelligence has not yet influenced their workforce planning, with 55% of respondents indicating no impact thus far. In relation to organisational adaptation to AI, just 5% felt their organisations were responding to the changes in the AI landscape "extremely well".
Looking ahead, business leaders expressed confidence in the positive potential of AI, with 90% believing that AI will have a positive impact on their teams' work over the next two years. However, workers showed less optimism, with 63% expecting a positive effect on their roles in the same period. A quarter of workers surveyed remain concerned about possible job displacement due to the introduction of agentic AI systems that can perform complex tasks autonomously.
Security and compliance were found to be primary concerns surrounding further adoption of AI. For 46% of respondents, these issues present the most significant barrier to integrating more frequent AI usage within their teams. The report also revealed a focus on skills development across participating organisations, with just over half – 52% – providing training or upskilling opportunities related to AI for their employees.
Leadership perspectives
Dennis Grant, Managing Director at Avec, commented on the report's results, noting the ongoing and careful transition that many organisations are experiencing regarding AI implementation.
"The shift from hesitancy to embracing AI is a slow but steady hill for many businesses. AI offers transformative opportunities, but it also requires thoughtful implementation, clear strategy, and careful management of ethical and operational challenges. Only then will businesses unlock its full potential."
Jack Jorgensen, Practice Lead – AI, Data & Innovation at Avec, discussed some of the hidden difficulties associated with the rise of AI technologies in workplace environments. He said, "AI is fundamentally transforming the workplace. However, there are many unseen challenges. The implementation of large-scale AI projects can necessitate the storage of enormous volumes of data, which in turn requires fast and reliable access. Cloud storage, while convenient, comes with substantial costs which may not be considered in this regard. There are also security considerations evolving at an accelerated pace. There needs to be a greater focus on developing effective solutions and having the right AI leaders in the business to ensure the success."
Challenges and future focus
The report highlights that while the majority of organisations have yet to see direct impacts on workforce strategy from AI, there is pressure to address security, cost, and skills considerations as adoption is expected to accelerate. The difference in sentiment between business leaders and workers regarding the benefits of AI was also marked, showing a need for continued dialogue and investment in skills and security as organisations adapt to new technologies.
