Global AI Strategist and CEO of Treeshake, Dave Duarte, has urged companies to build in-house artificial intelligence (AI) expertise to ensure they remain competitive.
“Companies should begin building in-house artificial intelligence (AI) expertise within their employees to ensure they can adapt, innovate, and remain competitive,” Duarte said.
He warned that firms delaying this transition risk being outpaced by rivals who integrate AI more effectively.
Speaking at the Navigating AI Summit, Duarte noted that most AI business initiatives fail because of skills gaps rather than technology. “Seventy-four percent of AI business initiatives fail not due to technological limitations, but because of insufficient human capital and capabilities,” he said.
Duarte emphasised the importance of moving beyond reliance on consultants.
“You actually do need people who are specialised in AI. It’s not just a DIY shop. This is a growing sector for consultants, which is why players in the field are already doing quite well. Over time, however, companies will also need to start converging towards building their own in-house expertise. If they rely too long on external expertise for AI, they risk being left behind. Humans who work with AI will outperform humans who do not,” he said.
At the same event, Namibian technology company V5 Digital launched its AI Academy, following the conclusion of its V5 Africa Conference.
The initiative aims to address Africa’s growing shortage of artificial intelligence skills.
V5 Founder and Managing Director, Armin Wieland, said the academy builds on a successful pilot programme with PostFin Namibia, a NamPost subsidiary, which tested training methods with teams from HR, finance, marketing, and operations.
“Your workforce might be grounded at this point, not knowing what to do next or lacking strategy. Many speakers will emphasise this – you need strategy and alignment. You might excel in one area but lack the data, strategy, or human skills, and that’s where we’d like to help you going forward,” he said.
The AI Academy offers flexible learning paths, including personalised programmes, workshops, and pilot projects for both professionals and businesses.
Central to its approach is an academically developed assessment quiz that measures participants’ “AI readiness score.”
