98% of Brazilian Companies Invest in AI, But 69% Admit Their Teams Aren’t Ready — Why This Gap Is Your Biggest Opportunity

There is a fascinating paradox happening right under our noses in the Brazilian corporate world. While 98% of companies in Brazil are investing in artificial intelligence, a staggering 69% of leaders admit their teams are not yet ready to successfully leverage this technology.

Think about it for a moment: We’re talking about nearly every company in the country investing in AI, but more than two-thirds of them admitting they don’t have the right people to make that bet pay off. It’s like buying a Formula 1 car and finding out we don’t have the qualified drivers to drive it.

Investment Is Not the Problem — Preparation Is

During my career supporting more than 10,000 startups and following the evolution of the Brazilian technology ecosystem, I have seen this movie a few times. The excitement about a new technology always comes before the training to use it properly.

The data is even more revealing when we look at it globally. According to the same survey, 951% of global companies are investing in AI, and 711% of global leaders admit that their teams are unprepared. Brazil, surprisingly, is slightly ahead in both investment and in honestly acknowledging our limitations.

But here's the crux: 431% of Brazilian companies (511% globally) admit they do not have qualified talent to manage AI fronts. This isn’t just a number — it’s a cry for help disguised as a statistic.

Why Are We Investing Before We Prepare?

The answer is simple and understandable: FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). The fear of being left behind is causing companies to rush to invest in AI without thinking about the human infrastructure needed to support these investments.

It’s a natural and, to some extent, healthy reaction. If you don’t invest in AI today, you may actually be left behind tomorrow. But investing without preparing people is like building a house starting with the roof.

I see companies buying expensive licenses for AI tools, hiring specialized consultants, creating “AI committees” — all without first asking themselves: do our teams really know how to integrate these tools into existing processes? Do they understand the limitations and potential of the technology?

What Does “Ready” for AI Mean?

When we talk about AI readiness, we’re not just talking about technical skills — although that’s important. We’re talking about a deeper transformation in organizational mindset.

Being AI-ready means:

• Understand the limitations: Knowing when AI can help and when it can hurt
• Develop critical sense: As you rightly pointed out Michael D. Watkins in Valor Econômico, “AI is a powerful tool that can complement and augment leaders’ capabilities,” but never replace human strategic reasoning
• Implement appropriate governance: Especially important when we see ethical risks emerging, such as worrying rise in deepfakes documented by the Oxford Internet Institute
• Cultivate a culture of experimentation: Allow for rapid failure and continuous learning
• Invest in upskilling: Empower existing teams rather than just hiring “AI experts”

The Risks of Investing Without Preparation

The past 24 hours have brought us worrying examples of what happens when AI is implemented without proper preparation and governance. Users report existential crises and even episodes of psychosis after conversations with chatbots, while AI “hallucinations” cause harmful misinformation to real people.

These extreme cases remind us that AI is not just a neutral tool — it carries responsibilities and risks that need to be actively managed.

How to Turn This Gap into a Competitive Advantage

Here’s the good news: This gap between investment and preparation isn’t a problem—it’s a massive opportunity. Companies that can close this gap first will have a sustainable competitive advantage.

1. Start with Mindset, Not Technology

Before implementing any AI tool, invest time in developing a mindset for working collaboratively with machines. Your teams need to understand that AI is not magic — it is a powerful tool that amplifies human capabilities when used well.

2. Create Structured Training Programs

Don’t just send people to a weekend “AI course.” Develop structured programs that combine theory and practice, with real-world projects and ongoing mentoring.

3. Implement Governance from the Start

Establish clear guidelines on ethical use of AI, data privacy, and liability. Recent cases of misuse show us that this is not a concern for the future — it is a necessity for the present.

4. Promote Safe Experimentation

Create controlled environments where teams can experiment with AI without putting critical business processes at risk. It’s through (safe) mistakes that we learn.

The Future Belongs to Companies that Invest in People

As I follow the launch of OpenAI's new o3-pro model, I am impressed by the pace of technological evolution. But I am also convinced that the real differentiation is not in the technology you buy — it is in the people you empower to use it.

The startups I’ve supported over the years that have excelled the most weren’t necessarily the ones with the best technology at the start. They were the ones with the best people and the greatest ability to learn and adapt quickly.

The same logic applies to large companies today. AI democratizes access to advanced technology — any company can buy the same tools. But not every company has the people who are prepared to extract real value from those tools.

A Call to Action for Leaders

If you are a leader of a company investing in AI, stop for a moment and ask yourself these honest questions:

• Do your teams really know how to use the AI tools you’re purchasing?
• Do you have clear processes for governance and ethical use of AI?
• Are your investments in training proportional to your investments in technology?
• Are you measuring the ROI of your AI investments appropriately?

If the answer to any of these questions is “no” or “more or less,” you are not alone. You are one of the 69% leaders who recognize the preparedness gap.

But recognizing the problem is the first step to solving it. And solving that problem is one of the biggest opportunities for competitive differentiation we have today.

The Time is Now

The good news is that it’s never been easier to empower teams with AI. There are resources, communities, mentorship programs, and experts (like me) focused on helping companies bridge this gap.

The bad news is that this window of opportunity won’t stay open forever. Companies that start investing seriously in skilling their teams today will have a significant advantage over those that continue to simply buy technology without developing their people.

In my mentoring work with companies, I see every day how the right combination of technology and skilled people can generate extraordinary results. It’s not about replacing humans with machines — it’s about creating hybrid teams that amplify the best of both worlds.

The preparation gap revealed by this research is not a problem to be lamented. It is an opportunity to be seized. The question is: will your company remain just a statistic or will it be part of the solution?