In this episode of Next Frontiers of AI, host Scott Hebner is joined by Justice Erolin, Chief Technology Officer at BairesDev, to confront one of the defining challenges of 2025: the AI talent crisis. The demand for AI-skilled professionals is already outpacing supply by a factor of 2.3 times, with job openings growing 10 times faster than the number of new entrants into the field. Seventy percent of enterprises report struggling to find qualified AI talent, while 40% of existing AI-skilled employees are considering leaving their jobs. The result is a spiraling competition for scarce talent, with companies paying salary premiums of 47% to 200% in an unsustainable arms race.
This episode examines what lies beneath that crisis—and why the solution isn’t just about pursuing human capital. A key shift is happening as software developers become data scientists and AI engineers, broadening their skills while using agentic AI systems that allow them to design and deploy models without requiring deep expertise. Simultaneously, AI talent augmentation is becoming inevitable, as enterprises blend flexible outsourcing with AI agents serving as virtual specialists. These agents automate routine tasks and enable non-experts to contribute to AI projects—accelerating talent filling faster than hiring alone. Scott and Justice will unpack:
•The real forces behind the supply-demand imbalance include hidden retention risks.
•Common recruitment missteps and the skills—hard and soft—that matter most.
•How upskilling, paired with agentic AI, can accelerate AI talent development.
•The global shift in sourcing is reshaping hiring in a remote-first world.
•How enterprises can deploy AI agents as force multipliers to bridge gaps and stay competitive.
For executives and technology leaders, this episode offers a clear and actionable view of AI talent strategy—where success will hinge not just on who you hire, but also on how you augment, retain, and empower your workforce in an era of accelerating AI transformation.
