Scramble for AI talent puts cities in the spotlight

When it comes to real estate planning, how do firms go about predicting the next hotbed of AI talent?

“Not all firms can relocate to London or San Francisco, nor would they want to, as acute demand puts labor costs through the roof,” says Goodliffe.

Instead, she says it’s about doing research to identify cities creating the right conditions for the next wave of AI talent to flourish.

Government policies, educational initiatives, partnerships or investment in AI are all factors that indicate long term commitment to nurturing a future pipeline of suitable skills.

Take Slovenia’s national program Purity, which has a budget of €100 million ($106 million) and aims to promote the development and use of AI. Ljubljana, the capital city, is also home to the UNESCO International Research Center on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI), established to advance AI in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Secondary markets yet to be saturated may well offer less competition and lower-cost AI talent, plus opportunities for outsourcing,” Goodliffe says.

Poland, UAE and Egypt are among those who have already implemented national AI strategies and allocated budget to educational reform aimed at upskilling populations to work with AI. In Germany, universities in Berlin and Munich now offer several AI masters courses, and their technical institutions are regarded among the world’s best for broader computer science.

While location is one factor, Goodliffe says it’s important to remember that future AI talent may be found working remotely outside core metropolitan areas.

“We’re looking at a new dynamic with different generations entering the workforce who place greater emphasis on wellbeing and work-life balance,” she says. “Employees are likely to want greater freedom over when and where they work, especially with the productivity gains that AI itself is supporting. It means finding the talent is one thing, but keeping it is another.”