"From a management perspective, I found this discussion exceptionally thought-provoking, particularly regarding the often-overlooked issue of equitable AI access. It was also refreshing to hear industry leaders acknowledge that AI is not a wholesale replacement for human talent - a nuance often lost in current debates. Most importantly, the episode highlighted a critical strategic blind spot: companies are making rigid long-term decisions based on today's fleeting technological capabilities, rather than planning for an ever-evolving landscape. Overall, this was a necessary conversation that brought light to topics the industry isn't discussing enough."
AI is scaling, skills are not
AI is reshaping the world faster than people can make sense of it, and nowhere is that tension more visible than in the gap between the promise of opportunity and the reality on the ground. Filmed across Leeds (a growing hub for technology innovation and talent) and London, this documentary explores how AI is transforming work, education, and regional economies, and asks a fundamental question: are we preparing people for the future, or leaving them behind?
Through talking to a cast of diverse voices and our own research we uncover a striking paradox: demand for AI skills has exploded by 82%, yet more than half of organisations invest little or nothing in training their people.
The documentary-“The AI Skills Paradox” explores this further speaking to educators, C-suite individuals, AI specialists and the young people who worry AI will limit their job prospects, to reveal whether AI becomes a force for opportunity and inclusion or a catalyst for an even wider divide.
Key stats from the documentary
of workers do not have basic tech skills required to be upskilled in AI
of organisations are investing meaningfully in upskilling their people (despite rising demand)
of current skills could be outdated by 2030 (future-of-work projections)
Leaders featured in film
Nicky Danino
Head of School of Computing and Creative Industries, Leeds Trinity University
Josh Nesbitt
Chief Technology Officer, Genio
Dr Laura Gilbert MBE
Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Senior Director of AI
Philip White
Managing Director, Audacia
Will Abbey
Chief Commercial Officer, Arm
