AI: Aon – the real competitive advantage comes from people

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) – Companies worldwide recognise that ‘it is people who will determine the success of artificial intelligence, yet they are not investing sufficiently in strategies for developing human capital. This is highlighted in the first edition of the ‘Human Capital Trends Study’, carried out by Aon, a global leader in insurance broking and consultancy for risk and human capital management. According to the report – which surveyed 2,361 business leaders in more than 62 countries, including Italy – 88 per cent of companies agree that artificial intelligence will require new skills from the workforce and identify, among the key success factors for the next three years, the development of capabilities such as adaptability, leadership and change management, which are considered even more important than technical skills. Despite this awareness, a gap remains between intention and action: 73 per cent of organisations have already launched or are trialling AI initiatives, but only 18 per cent report that the majority of their employees have taken part in dedicated upskilling or reskilling programmes over the past year.

This misalignment “is even more evident – as the study explains – when AI strategies are developed without a clear link to business objectives, operational models or the skills required to implement them”. Only 28 per cent of companies have recruited professionals with specific AI skills, a sign of a heavy reliance on developing in-house talent. The finding therefore points to “a gap between what organisations recognise as crucial to success and the way in which they allocate resources: a critical issue that is emerging as a real risk to corporate value”.

Interest in artificial intelligence is also high in Italia: according to the study, 33 per cent of companies have implemented AI solutions, compared with a global average of 44 per cent. “This figure highlights how the Italian market is still in a phase of consolidation and acceleration,” explains Aon, “but at the same time represents a significant opportunity for organisations that are able to invest promptly in skills development and the transformation of their operational models.”

Awareness of this change is already widespread: 83 per cent of Italian companies believe that AI will create new opportunities and require new skills, whilst 30 per cent anticipate a significant impact on the evolution of certain professional roles. However, almost a quarter of the workforce has not taken part in any AI-related training initiatives in the last 12 months, highlighting the need to accelerate staff development programmes. “Artificial intelligence is not just a technological transformation, but a profound organisational transformation. Companies that act with determination will be able to fully capitalise on the opportunities offered by AI,” commented Cecilia Exacoustos, Head of Human Capital Solutions at Aon. “Bridging the gap between intention and action will be the key differentiator: organisations that succeed in developing the right skills, strengthening their organisational culture and empowering leadership capable of driving change will be best placed to turn artificial intelligence into a solid and lasting competitive advantage.”

The study also highlights that 80 per cent of organisations globally identify the automation of routine tasks as one of the main objectives of AI, whilst only 35 per cent consider investment in structured upskilling and reskilling programmes to be a priority. At the same time, leaders are increasingly recognising the crucial role of human skills in the success of AI: 84% of employers believe that these skills will become more important as levels of automation increase, whilst 37% cite future skills gaps in the workforce as the main challenge over the next five to ten years. Taken together, these figures reveal a clear mismatch: organisations are accelerating their automation efforts, yet continue to underestimate the value of investing in the people needed to make it work effectively and sustainably. The report emphasises that, ‘in the absence of clear expectations and adequate governance frameworks for the use of AI, or when the level of preparedness lags behind its implementation, organisations expose themselves to slower adoption, fragmented decision-making processes and increased operational and reputational risks, thereby limiting the value that AI could generate”.