Building high-performing AI teams

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy

Vidhi Chugh

AI strategist and ethicist

Characteristics of a high-performing team

Starts from a vague business problem
High-performing team: fuzziness -> high business value

Chasing ideas

Technical knowledge

Interrelated skills
- Linear algebra
- Probability
- Statistics

Besides theory
- Proficiency in software programming
- Understanding algorithms; their uses and limitations

Statistics

Algorithms

¹ https://www.kdnuggets.com/2016/08/statistics-topics-needed-excelling-data-science.html

Quick thinker

Swiftly adjust approach
Able to face unforeseen challenges

Adjust

Problem solver

Go beyond academics and technical skills
Quick ramp-up on newer initiatives

Problem solver

Problem

First, understand business problem
Then, think of technology

Articulate complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders

Business stakeholders

AI-centric culture

Hackathons

High attrition in AI teams
Passion for challenging projects
Organizations taking several measures to promote AI-centric culture

AI community

Conferences

In-house or outsource?

In-house hiring

Tough to decide between hiring in-house or outsource
In-house: expensive but aligned with long-term strategy to promote innovation
External experts: bring specialized skills without long-term commitment

Org design

Done: AI teams and culture
Next: Team structure
- Centralized and decentralized

Data governance

Org design

Done: AI teams and culture
Next: Team structure
- Centralized and decentralized

Best practicies

Org design

Next: Team structure
- Centralized and decentralized
Decentralized: individual business units

Talent strategy

Hybrid team structure

Hybrid structure
- Cross-functional teams come together
- Product, business, data and AI
- Accelerate project delivery

Faster collaboration

Enhanced visibility

Decision making

Career growth with business growth

Professional growth

Mentorship

Technology

Job description and title

To summarize

High-performing teams

Let's practice!

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy