Artificial intelligence is changing the way businesses operate, but the success of this transition will depend as much on workforce skills as it will on technology adoption, according to Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of JazzWorld. Speaking at the induction of the first cohort of JazzWorld’s AI Associates Program in Islamabad, Aamir said organizations need to look beyond simply deploying artificial intelligence tools and focus on preparing employees to work differently, make informed decisions, solve business problems and develop new products and services.
Aamir said companies face the risk of treating artificial intelligence as another technology implementation instead of recognizing the wider changes it can bring to the workplace. He argued that workforce development should be at the centre of the transition because technology is advancing rapidly, while employees need the necessary skills and confidence to incorporate these capabilities into their daily responsibilities. According to him, reskilling will determine whether organizations can translate artificial intelligence adoption into meaningful improvements across their operations.
He described the progression toward AI-native operations through three stages: AI-enabled, AI-first and AI-native. The first stage involves using artificial intelligence to improve existing work by making processes faster, strengthening decision-making and improving customer experiences. The AI-first stage requires organizations to reconsider how processes, products and customer journeys should be designed when artificial intelligence is readily available. The final stage, AI-native, involves creating products, services and systems that would not have been possible without artificial intelligence.
The JazzWorld CEO also said traditional approaches to workforce development, including courses and certifications, are not sufficient on their own. Instead, organizations need to focus on practical AI fluency, which means employees should be able to apply artificial intelligence to improve productivity, support better decisions, redesign existing processes and address actual business challenges. This approach is reflected in JazzWorld’s decision to place its new AI Associates directly within existing teams rather than restricting them to a separate artificial intelligence unit.
Following a nationwide recruitment process, 100 young professionals have joined JazzWorld’s year-long AI Associates Program. The participants will gain practical experience in areas including fintech, cybersecurity, data science and analytics, software development and digital platforms. By working alongside existing teams, the Associates will be exposed to real business and customer challenges and will identify opportunities where artificial intelligence can improve productivity, decision-making and the development of products and services.
Aamir said the objective of the programme extends beyond training 100 professionals with artificial intelligence capabilities. The Associates are expected to become catalysts for wider organizational change by applying their skills within different parts of the business. The approach reflects JazzWorld’s broader focus on integrating artificial intelligence into operational and business functions rather than treating it as a standalone technology discipline.
The initiative was also linked to Pakistan’s large young population and the country’s potential role in an increasingly AI-driven economy. Aamir said Pakistan’s demographic advantage will depend partly on whether young people receive the skills and practical experience needed to participate effectively in emerging technology-driven industries. He said the country has an opportunity to develop a generation that can move beyond consuming new technologies and instead use them to build products, businesses and economic value.
Kaan Terzioğlu, Group CEO of VEON, who attended the induction ceremony, also highlighted the importance of developing human capabilities alongside technological infrastructure. He said building strong talent will be essential for creating AI-native digital operators across VEON’s markets. He also pointed to Pakistan’s young population as an opportunity while emphasizing the need to prepare the workforce for an economy increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
Tazeen Shahid, Chief People Officer at JazzWorld, was also among the senior leadership present at the induction, along with representatives from Pakistan’s artificial intelligence ecosystem. Aamir said the long-term objective is for artificial intelligence to become integrated into everyday business operations rather than remaining a separate subject within organizations. For JazzWorld, the AI Associates Program represents an effort to combine practical workplace experience with artificial intelligence skills while developing talent that can contribute to changes across the company.
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