What it means to "work in/with AI" and the corresponding roles, tasks, and required skills have been ambiguous since the emergence of AI professionals in industry. And while the demand for AI-skilled professionals continues to grow, both organizations and individuals seeking to work in the AI field often struggle with two challenges: 1) clearly defining the competencies and responsibilities that positions and projects require, and 2) identifying appropriate upskilling opportunities to match these needs. The urgency to upskill professionals in AI topics has not only become more nuanced since the emergence of generative AI but is also growing rapidly. This trend is further amplified by the upcoming European AI Act, which will soon require companies to "ensure, to their best extent, a sufficient level of AI literacy among their staff." This regulation has created an urgent need to define and understand what constitutes AI literacy and AI skills in practical terms.

To help organizations and professionals navigate this landscape, we have developed a comprehensive framework categorizing AI skills into distinct domains spanning technical competencies, regulatory knowledge, AI strategy, and ecosystem understanding. Our framework, developed by the multidisciplinary team of AI experts in the appliedAI Institute for Europe, provides a structured approach to defining skill requirements, guiding career development, identifying training gaps, and helping educational providers align their offerings with market demands.

In this presentation, we will introduce our framework and share initial data reflecting the current state of AI skills levels and upskilling needs across a sample of companies. We will also discuss practical strategies for implementing this AI Skills framework within organizations, enabling them to better assess, develop, and acquire the AI capabilities they need to fulfill their specific needs.