A recent survey of 3,003 decision makers and executive leaders at nationwide organizations by Snowfire, an artificial intelligence (AI) decision-making platform, found the specific AI-forward careers expected to boom locally in Wisconsin, and tracked trends across the U.S..
Wisconsin’s anticipated top three AI-forward careers are:
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AI-powered manufacturing systems engineer;
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Agricultural data science specialist; and
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Health care AI implementation specialist.
The study also explored how nationwide businesses are adapting to AI internally. Nearly one in three organizations (29%) now report having a chief AI officer — a role that didn’t exist a few years ago — and AI is leaving a measurable financial mark: Twenty-six percent of managers say AI has improved productivity; 25% point to enhanced customer satisfaction; 23% cite cost reductions; 13% note revenue growth; and 12% see gains in risk or compliance management.
However, when asked about barriers to transformation, 25% of leaders cited a shortage of skilled talent, and an equal number pointed to cultural resistance within their organizations. Budget limitations (21%), poor strategic alignment (15%) and unclear ROI (14%) also held companies back.
Tech budgets are gradually shifting — on average, 15% of annual spend is now earmarked for AI-related infrastructure — but many leaders still worry about knowledge gaps at the top. Just 15% of C-suite teams are described as having a “deep understanding and regular use” of AI, while 22% fall into the “very low” category.
Looking ahead, executives believe AI will most significantly reshape the roles of CEOs (29%) and CFOs (27%), with CTOs, CMOs and CHROs close behind.
