Coursera, AWS: 88% of tech leaders prioritize AI – but 94% say cloud comes first

Over the next three years, 88% of tech leaders will be prioritizing AI, compared to 94% who report cloud transformation being a key business goal, according to new research from Coursera, in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS). 

The survey, which used 750+ Senior Technology Executives in the UK, US, France, India, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates, also found that 52% of tech leaders do not believe their current team is equipped with the skills necessary to achieve their business transformation goals within 18 months. 

As a result, 67% believe keeping pace with technology as the most urgent driver for skills development, compared to 75% of leaders who view training as paramount over the next 12 to 18 months.

In an exclusive conversation with Trena Minudri, VP & Chief Learning Officer of Coursera UNLEASH take a deep dive into this research. 

Why cybersecurity outranks AI

AI is only the fourth-highest skill in terms of priorities for tech leaders, falling behind cybersecurity.

The report highlights that cybersecurity ranks highly due to the recent rise in attacks – with more than a quarter (27%) of companies experiencing a cyber-attack in the past year. This is up from just 16% the year before.

Additionally, AI and automation are continuing to change the way we work, causing 54% of UK leaders to expect 30-50% of their work to be automated within the next three years.

For this to come into play, leaders need to prioritize skills as a vital part of AI’s transition across sectors. 

What’s more, 78% of global leaders reported believing that all technical roles addressed will be impacted due to automation in the next three years.

Building on this, Minudri explains: “While much of the industry dialogue focuses on the rapid pace of AI transformation, our latest research reveals that tech leaders are equally focused on building a resilient cloud foundation. 

“Without robust cloud infrastructure, encompassing security, data architecture and scalability, AI won’t deliver on its promise. Forward-thinking leaders are recognising that true innovation in AI starts with getting the cloud fundamentals right.”

This has significant implications for HR and L&D leaders. Preparing the workforce for AI is not just about teaching advanced AI capabilities, but ensuring teams have strong foundational knowledge in cloud, data management and cybersecurity, as well as AI.”

This being said, Coursera and AWS’s research found that 68% of tech leaders expect new hires to have a strong understanding of how Gen AI could be used in their role, expecting them to possess AI skills from day one.

Yet 74% of leaders understand that hiring alone cannot bridge this skills gap, and that training must be provided.

Minudri concludes: “Organizations that develop a unified strategy to upskill employees across these interconnected areas will gain a competitive edge. 

“HR leaders, in particular, have an opportunity to build a skills-first culture that supplements AI training with the essential technical foundations needed to scale and sustain it.”