Artificial intelligence is transforming public sector operations, from automating routine tasks to enhancing decision-making with predictive analytics. However, as AI adoption accelerates, a crucial question arises: Are today’s government employees ready for this shift?

A recent Salesforce survey found that 60% of public sector IT professionals cite a lack of AI skills as the biggest barrier to implementation. Without a workforce that is prepared to leverage AI effectively, agencies risk falling behind in their modernization efforts.

“AI is not going to replace the vast majority of jobs out there,” explains Dmitri Adler, Co-founder and Global Head of Technology Solutions at Data Society. “But people who are good at using AI to scale up their domain expertise will replace those who do not.”

To ensure government agencies can harness AI’s full potential, workforce upskilling must be a top priority.

Bridging the AI and data literacy gap

One of the biggest challenges in AI adoption is not just technical implementation—it’s ensuring employees have the right level of data literacy to apply AI insights effectively. “It’s not about tools—tools are just a means to an end,” says Merav Yuravlivker, CEO of Data Society and Chief Learning Officer of Data Society Group. “It’s about the frameworks of thinking, the mindset, the language, and the skills that an organization uses to facilitate change on a larger scale.”

Public sector professionals must be equipped to collect and store data securely, access it at scale, and implement AI-driven solutions responsibly. Given the complexity of AI models, critical thinking and ethical considerations are just as essential as technical expertise.

“We have to be mindful because a lot of our data is imprecise,” Yuravlivker states. “It doesn’t accurately reflect our society, or it reflects it too accurately and perpetuates some things we would like to change. We have to be vigilant about misleading narratives and do the legwork upfront to use data responsibly.”

With AI evolving at an unprecedented pace—going from a research concept in 2012 to mass adoption in just over a decade—the need for AI-ready talent in the public sector has never been greater.

A collaborative approach to workforce upskilling

To address these pressing workforce challenges, leading AI and data experts are coming together for an exclusive Industry Connect event hosted by Data Society, The Data Lodge, and DataCamp.

Date: March 26, 2025
Location: Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C.

The event will feature distinguished speakers with deep expertise in AI implementation, data governance, and public sector transformation, including:

• Adrianna Rockford Steele – FEMA Data Enablement Branch Chief

• John Toomer – Principal, J. Toomer & Co.; Former Deputy Director, Cyber and Information Operations Directorate, U.S. Air Force; Former Director of Intelligence, Information and Cyber Systems, Boeing

Through expert presentations and interviews, these leaders will discuss:

✅ How data and AI is reshaping public sector roles and skills requirements
✅ The biggest challenges government agencies face in AI adoption
✅ Best practices for implementing AI responsibly in mission-driven organizations
✅ Strategies to build a workforce that is adaptable to data and AI-driven change

For public sector professionals, this event is more than just a discussion — it’s a critical step toward shaping the future of data and AI workforce development. Attendees will gain valuable insights from industry experts, explore actionable strategies for AI adoption, and connect with peers navigating similar challenges in public sector and government modernization.