Business
Applied AI fluency, enterprise trust seen key to digital economy
WEEKLY EXCLUSIVE
As Qatar advances its national digital ecosystem through substantial infrastructure commitments, financial sector leaders point to applied operational fluency and mid-career upskilling as critical priorities for human capital development.
Dr Devid Jegerson, CEO of PayLater, noted that while national investments in universities, Qatar Foundation, and digital agenda programmes have established a strong technical foundation, a gap remains between institutional AI literacy and practical workplace implementation.
"The gap is between institutional AI literacy and applied AI fluency in the workplace,” Jegerson told Gulf Times in an exclusive interview. He pointed out that while educational institutions successfully produce graduates capable of explaining complex large language models, fewer professionals are currently trained to redesign operational workflows within corporate environments.
Jegerson emphasised that mid-career professionals with extensive operational expertise represent a vulnerable segment within the evolving labour market. He argued that existing retraining provisions predominantly cater to new entrants rather than experienced staff.
"Mid-career professionals in their 40s, with 15 years of process expertise, are the most exposed group and the least served by current retraining provision,” he explained, adding that this workforce dynamic is an international trend seen across various global markets.
However, Jegerson highlighted Qatar's distinct structural advantage in adapting quickly to workforce demands once strategic priorities are set. "What Qatar has that many do not, is the ability to move quickly once a decision is made. The convening power here is real,” he emphasised.
Turning to financial technology trends, Jegerson addressed common market perceptions regarding software development costs. He observed that while automated coding tools have reduced technical development expenses, lower barrier costs do not automatically create sustainable enterprise value.
"Cheap software does not create defensibility. It destroys it — and pushes the real competition into licensing, distribution, and trust, where it has always actually lived,” Jegerson stated, adding that regulatory compliance, merchant trust, and balance sheet capabilities remain the primary competitive moats for financial institutions.
Dr Jegerson also advised caution regarding public corporate productivity claims linked to artificial intelligence deployment. He stressed that most published benchmarks evaluate isolated task completion in controlled settings rather than comprehensive, full-year organisational performance.