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Darius Gant

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Albert Gozzi, Aleph

Aleph: Transforming Finance with AI-Powered Workflows

In the latest episode of the Tesoro AI Podcast, host Darius Gant sat down with Albert Gozzi, co-founder and CEO of Aleph, to explore how AI is revolutionizing financial data management. Aleph aims to become the single source of truth for finance teams by automating—and accelerating—the tedious 80 percent of low-value tasks that consume professionals’ time. Here’s what we learned.

From Spreadsheets to Startup

Albert began his career at Bain & Company, where early on he found himself moonlighting for CFOs—cleaning messy financial data and building ad hoc models in Excel and VBA. Those experiences exposed him to the universal pain points of finance: data ingestion from disparate systems, version control headaches, and endless reconciliation loops. A stint as COO/CFO of a high-growth startup only deepened his conviction that these workflows needed a permanent, centralized solution .

The Core Problem: Reinventing the Wheel

Every finance team—whether in a Fortune 500 or a bootstrapped startup—faces the same laundry list of challenges:

  • Data Cleansing: Vendor names in QuickBooks or NetSuite are inconsistent, making accurate reporting a multi-day chore.
  • Version Control: Multiple spreadsheet iterations lead to confusion and errors.
  • Reconciliation & Discrepancies: Manual matching across systems invites human mistakes.
  • Time-Intensive Analysis: Simple tasks like variance analysis can take hours per account.

Albert’s insight: why rebuild these solutions in every department when a unified, AI-driven platform can solve them once—and push updates to all users?

Aleph’s Solution: Platform over Point Products

Rather than offer isolated “AI add-ons,” Aleph has built an end-to-end finance and data platform that:

  1. Ingests & Cleans Data AutomaticallyAleph connectors pull raw transactions from systems like QuickBooks or Stripe. Its first AI layer standardizes vendor names, deduplicates records, and harmonizes accounts overnight—tasks that once took weeks of manual effort .
  2. Enables True Version ControlBy storing plans, forecasts, and actuals in a centralized data warehouse, Aleph lets teams lock and branch “snapshots” of their models, ensuring everyone works from the same baseline.
  3. Combines Multiple AI Agents– Data-Cleaning Agent refines raw inputs.– Analysis Agent performs variance and trend analyses.

    – Co-Pilot Agent assists users in building scenarios like discounted cash-flows.

    Each agent’s output feeds the next, multiplying accuracy and speed.

  4. Supports Co-Pilot & Auto-Pilot Modes– Co-Pilot: AI suggests steps, but users retain control and oversight—ideal for complex tasks like scenario planning.– Auto-Pilot: Fully automated workflows (e.g., monthly variance reports) complete end-to-end with minimal human intervention.

High-Impact Use Cases

  • Variance Analysis at Scale: What once required 1,000+ manual row checks can now be completed in minutes, with clean explanations generated for each significant variance.
  • Financial Planning & Forecasting: Teams can spin up new scenarios by tweaking drivers, leveraging the same cleaned data—no re-ingestion necessary.
  • Revenue & Operations Analytics: With integrations into CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot), Aleph surfaces insights on customer cohorts, churn drivers, and pricing impacts.

Building Trust: Traceability & Auditability

Albert stressed that in finance, “hallucinations” are unacceptable. Aleph’s design ensures every AI-generated output is fully traceable back to raw transactions. Users can audit each change—just as they would review a junior analyst’s spreadsheet—before trusting AI-driven insights .

Getting Started: Fast, Modular Deployment

Unlike legacy ERP rollouts that take months, Aleph’s modular architecture lets teams onboard in days:

  1. Connect Data Sources: Link accounting systems in under five minutes.
  2. Activate AI Workflows: Choose high-value modules (e.g., vendor planning) and run initial cleans overnight.
  3. Iterate & Expand: As teams see tangible ROI, they can unlock additional modules—from financial close to tax reporting.

The Future of AI in Finance

Albert envisions a world where 95 percent of routine finance tasks run on autopilot, freeing professionals to focus on strategy, risk management, and value creation. Emerging advances in large language models promise ever-smarter agents—fully capable of end-to-end workflows like variance reporting, scenario builds, and compliance checks.

Conclusion

Aleph’s journey from spreadsheet hacks to AI-powered platform underscores a powerful lesson: true innovation in finance comes not from occasional point solutions, but from unifying and automating the entire data lifecycle. As AI continues to mature, platforms like Aleph will be essential partners for finance teams striving to work faster, more accurately, and at scale.

See more on: https://www.getaleph.com/

 

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Cali’s Innovation Tide: How Macrorrueda 2025 Reinforced Latin America’s AI Advantage

Last week, the bustling streets of Cali transformed into a global innovation hub as Macrorrueda 2025 convened investors, policymakers, technologists and more under one roof. Now in its 18th edition, Macrorrueda has long been a showcase for Colombia’s export sectors and this year, artificial intelligence took a stage. Here’s how the city’s unique blend of policy, talent, and culture reinforced Latin America’s advantage.

Government Vision Meets Market Reality

Mayor Alejandro Eder kicked off the conference by declaring, “The best social policy is dignified, formal employment.” That philosophy underpins Cali’s recent economic strategy. Over the past two years, the municipal government has streamlined business permits, introduced tax incentives for R&D, and bolstered security guarantees for investors turning bureaucratic hurdles into business enablers .

The Secretary of Economic Development and Tourism of Cali, Mabel Lara, captured Cali’s spirit perfectly: “Here, we walk while we dance.” It’s a city that balances cultural creativity with deeptech capacity—a place where salsa rhythms pulse alongside data centers. This dual identity has attracted both startups and multinationals, keen to tap into a workforce that combines technical acumen with an innate flair for innovation.

Private-Sector Validation

If government support set the stage, private-sector voices provided the encore. At Macrorrueda Mario Pardo, Presidente Ejecutivo de BBVA Colombia, highlighted an ‘enormous pool of talent—especially in the Pacific corridor. Local startups echoed the sentiment. Pitch after pitch emphasized bilingual teams and timezone alignment as decisive advantages over offshore alternatives.

What’s Next?

Nearshoring has evolved. What once was a cost-play is now a strategic imperative. Companies seeking agility, cultural proximity, and resilient supply chains are looking beyond traditional tech hubs—and Cali offers all three:

  • Policy support that removes red tape and incentivizes R&D investment.
  • Cultural affinity and bilingual fluency that smooth cross-border collaboration.
  • A surplus of AI expertise rooted in universities, incubators, and grassroots hackathons.

As Macrorrueda 2025 showed, Cali isn’t just riding an innovation tide—it’s generating the waves.

Cali’s innovation tide is far from over**.** With policy momentum, private-sector validation, and on-the-ground initiatives by firms like Tesoro AI, the city is poised to cement its role as a cornerstone of Latin America’s AI advantage. Whether you’re a startup founder, an R&D leader, or a talent strategist, Cali’s Macrorrueda 2025 offers a compelling blueprint: invest in people, partner across sectors, and build infrastructure that dances as nimbly as it functions.

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AI Rising: Meet Latin America’s Top 15 Startup Game-Changers in 2025

Latin America’s AI landscape is rapidly evolving, with startups across the region developing innovative solutions that address local challenges and have global relevance. Here’s a look at 15 standout AI startups making waves in 2025:

  1. Fracttal (Chile)

    Fracttal offers AI-powered maintenance management solutions through its mobile platform, Fracttal One. By integrating IoT devices, it enables predictive maintenance, reducing downtime and operational costs for clients like Coca-Cola and FedEx.

  2. Buddy.ai (Montenegro/Latin America)

    Buddy.ai has developed a conversational AI tutor designed for children, focusing on teaching English through interactive methods. With over 50 million downloads, it’s particularly popular in Latin America, addressing educational gaps in English proficiency.

  3. Vambe (Chile)

    Vambe utilizes AI agents to automate customer communications and sales via WhatsApp. In just eight months, it increased its annual recurring revenue from $20,000 to $1 million, showcasing rapid growth and scalability.

  4. Nutri Co (Peru)

    Nutri Co employs AI to enhance nutrition by developing new food product recipes. Its AI, named Virgilio, aims to reduce the time required to create healthy food items, making nutritious options more accessible.

  5. Fastfold (Colombia)

    Fastfold is accelerating scientific discovery in molecular biology through its AI platform, democratizing research and enabling faster breakthroughs in the field.

  6. Morada.ai (Brazil)

    Morada.ai enhances the real estate industry by offering AI-powered solutions that assist with property listings, client inquiries, and connecting interested parties with brokers.

  7. BioGrip (Mexico)

    BioGrip is developing advanced bioprosthetics that integrate AI to interpret neural signals, aiming to provide users with more natural and functional prosthetic limbs.

  8. Keybe.ai (Colombia)

    Keybe.ai offers a generative AI platform that transforms how brands communicate with customers, centralizing information to provide personalized experiences and automate processes.

  9. Vozy (Mexico)

    Vozy specializes in AI-driven voice assistants that enhance customer service interactions, helping businesses streamline communication and improve customer satisfaction.

  10. Auravant (Argentina)

    Auravant leverages AI to provide precision agriculture solutions, enabling farmers to monitor crops effectively and make data-driven decisions to increase yield and sustainability.

  11. Zapia (Latin America)

    Zapia offers an AI executive assistant on WhatsApp, streamlining tasks and improving productivity for professionals across Latin America.

  12. Kiwi (Latin America)

    Kiwi provides specialized healthcare financing platforms, utilizing AI to assess creditworthiness and offer tailored financing solutions for medical expenses.

  13. Diio (Latin America)

    Diio uses AI to assist sales teams by analyzing data and providing insights, enhancing decision-making and sales strategies.

  14. TaxDown (Latin America)

    TaxDown employs AI to simplify tax management, offering users personalized advice and ensuring compliance, with plans to expand its services across Latin America.

  15. Escala 24×7 (Latin America)

    Escala 24×7 focuses on cloud and application modernization, using AI to help businesses transition smoothly to cloud-based infrastructures.

Conclusion

These 15 AI startups exemplify the dynamic and innovative spirit fueling Latin America’s tech ecosystem in 2025. By addressing diverse and locally relevant challenges—from education gaps and healthcare accessibility to agricultural productivity and streamlined customer services—they illustrate a strategic shift from simply adapting global innovations to creating tailored solutions rooted in regional needs.

Latin America is increasingly positioning itself not just as a market for AI technology but as a creator and exporter of AI-driven innovation. Critical factors driving this evolution include rising local investment, targeted government policies like Colombia’s CONPES 4144, and increased collaboration between universities, private sectors, and international partners. The result is a resilient ecosystem capable of generating startups that can scale quickly and sustainably, like Chile’s Fracttal and Montenegro-born.

Moreover, the emphasis on real-world problem-solving—leveraging local knowledge and cultural insights—ensures that Latin American AI ventures achieve both social impact and economic success. By investing strategically in talent, infrastructure, and international partnerships, Latin America is laying a robust foundation to become a global hub for AI development and innovation, contributing uniquely to the global tech dialogue.

As the region continues to nurture and expand this ecosystem, the world should expect to see Latin American tech not just follow trends but increasingly set them, reflecting a maturing industry ready to command greater global influence and recognition.

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From Mexico to Colombia: LATAM’s Rising Voice in Global AI Policy

Latin America is no longer on the sidelines of the AI regulation debate—it’s stepping into the spotlight. From Mexico City’s legislative initiatives to Colombia’s landmark CONPES policy, and a high-level summit at UCL, LATAM is actively shaping the rules that will govern AI’s next chapter. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Mexico’s Senatorial Push for Balanced AI Rules

Earlier this month, Mexico’s chief AI legislator delivered a clear message: the Global South cannot sit out the AI governance race. In a Reuters interview, Senator Xóchitl Gálvez highlighted the need to balance innovation with safeguards against misuse, positioning Mexico as a leader among emerging economies on this front.

  • Key takeaway: Mexico is drafting a bill to regulate AI applications in finance and public services, incorporating strict data-privacy measures while preserving research freedom.

2. Colombia’s New National AI Policy: CONPES 4144

On June 14, 2025, Colombia’s National Planning Department (DNP) released CONPES 4144, the country’s first comprehensive AI policy framework. This soft-law document:

  • Establishes ethical and transparency standards for both public and private AI deployments.
  • Mandates algorithmic impact assessments for government systems handling citizen data.
  • Coordinates with sectoral regulators, including the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce’s 2024 data-protection guidelines.

Just days later, the Constitutional Court’s T-067/25 ruling reaffirmed citizens’ rights to understand AI-driven decisions, endorsing algorithmic transparency in public services.

3. Regional Summit at UCL: Mapping LATAM Governance Needs

On June 20, the UCL Institute of the Americas hosted “AI Governance and Regulation in Latin America,” convening policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders from Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and beyond. Highlights included:

  • Presentation of the Latin American AI Governance Index, benchmarking each country’s maturity in ethics, safety, and accountability.
  • Panel debates on data sovereignty—particularly for cloud-hosted AI services—and strategies for regional coordination.
  • A call to form a Pan-Latin regulatory forum to harmonize standards and share best practices.

This event underscored a growing consensus: fragmented national rules risk creating compliance gaps that bad actors could exploit.

4. Cross-Border Coordination Gains Momentum

Beyond high-profile summits, practical cooperation is unfolding:

  • Declaration of Santiago (Oct 2023) signatories are drafting model AI laws to guide legislative bodies across the region.
  • UNESCO’s 2024 Regional Summit in Buenos Aires produced a set of guiding principles—from fairness to human-centered design—that inform national bills.
  • Access Now’s “Regulatory Mapping” report has catalyzed civil-society pressure in Argentina, Brazil, and Peru, calling for anti-bias audits and public-interest AI oversight.

5. Challenges and Next Steps

Despite this momentum, LATAM faces hurdles:

  • Resource constraints in smaller economies may delay comprehensive rule-making.
  • Skill gaps in regulator ranks require targeted upskilling—a need that Tesoro AI’s regional talent network is uniquely positioned to address.
  • Global alignment with the EU’s AI Act and OECD principles will demand diplomatic agility to avoid becoming mere “regulation takers.”

Why It Matters for AI Teams

For companies and AI professionals eyeing Latin America, this regulatory surge brings both risk and opportunity:

  • Risk: Uncertainty around pending bills could stall deployments or require rapid policy pivots.
  • Opportunity: Early movers can shape local frameworks, gain first-mover advantages, and tap into funding incentives tied to ethical AI.

At Tesoro AI, we partner with organizations navigating these changes—matching you with regulatory-savvy engineers, data-governance experts, and policy advisors across LATAM. Our deep understanding of local contexts ensures your AI initiatives comply with emerging standards from Mexico City to Bogotá.

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Barranquilla’s Blueprint: How the City Is Cultivating Latin America’s Next-Gen AI Workforce

When we stepped onto the Expo ProBarranquilla floor last week, the energy was electrifying. Under the banner of “Negocios + Inspiración,” more than 20 national and international speakers convened to map out the future of the Caribbean region—and at its heart was AI. From public-private partnerships to hands-on skills programs, Barranquilla is demonstrating a model for how second-tier cities can become AI talent engines.

A 15-Year Legacy of Connection and Collaboration

Since its inception, Expo ProBarranquilla has been more than a trade fair—it’s a bridge between government, academia, and business. Celebrating its 15th anniversary on June 11–12, 2025, the event united ProBarranquilla’s “Te Conecta” business roundtable with its flagship expo, creating a unique ecosystem for matchmaking and knowledge exchange.

Key facts:

  • 15 years of driving economic transformation in Atlántico and the Caribbean
  • Over 125,000 annual visitors projected for 2025 across both platforms
  • 20+ high-level panels addressing topics from nearshoring to sustainable development

This legacy of “conversations that drive transformation” sets the stage for AI-focused initiatives to thrive.

Aligning Academia and Industry: AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance

At the heart of Barranquilla’s AI workforce strategy is the recognition that classroom curricula must evolve alongside industry demands. During Expo ProBarranquilla, the city government, ProBarranquilla, and Amazon Web Services launched the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance to:

  • Bridge the gap between university programs and market needs
  • Offer targeted training in cloud, data engineering, and AI fundamentals
  • Provide clear employment pathways through internships and hiring fairs

This coalition of employers, educational institutions, and workforce agencies aims to place 800+ digital-tech graduates into relevant roles—ensuring a steady pipeline of home-grown AI talent.

Hands-On Learning: From Bootcamps to Hackathons

Beyond formal degrees, Barranquilla’s ecosystem supports vocational and experiential learning:

  • Short-form AI bootcamps co-designed by local universities and tech firms
  • Monthly hackathons focused on real-world problems—from port logistics to climate resilience
  • Mentorship networks pairing senior engineers with emerging technologists

These grassroots efforts complement high-level policy goals, creating multiple entry points into the AI field and helping students—and mid-career professionals—build portfolios of real projects.

Attracting Investment: Nearshoring and Sectoral Incentives

Expo ProBarranquilla also spotlighted Barranquilla’s nearshoring advantages:

  • Competitive operating costs (up to 30% below Bogotá)
  • Strategic Caribbean port for global logistics and data infrastructure
  • Incentives such as tax breaks for AI-focused R&D centers

Costa Rica’s nearshoring success was cited as a model, and leaders discussed how Barranquilla can carve out a similar niche as Latin America’s next AI hub. The clear goal: attract multinationals to establish AI teams locally, creating spillover benefits for domestic talent.

Regional Collaboration: A Network Without Borders

The push for AI talent in Barranquilla isn’t insular. Pan-Caribbean collaboration was a running theme:

  • Shared certification standards among Caribbean development organizations
  • Cross-border internship programs with hubs in Panama, Costa Rica, and Brazil
  • Virtual symposiums on AI ethics and regulatory alignment

By weaving together regional strengths, Barranquilla ensures its workforce remains competitive—and companies gain access to a broader talent pool.

Measuring Success: From Graduates to Gigabytes

How will we know the blueprint works? ProBarranquilla has set clear metrics:

  • 1,000+ AI-trained graduates by end-2026
  • 20 new AI-focused companies established locally
  • 50% increase in venture funding directed to Atlántico startups

In addition, AWS Skills to Jobs reports will track placement rates and salary growth, providing real-time feedback on curriculum effectiveness.

Conclusion: A Model for Emerging AI Cities

Barranquilla’s approach—anchored at Expo ProBarranquilla—is more than a local success story. It’s a replicable blueprint for cities across Latin America seeking to:

  1. Leverage legacy events to spotlight tech innovation
  2. Forge public-private partnerships for skills development
  3. Integrate hands-on learning with formal education
  4. Offer nearshoring incentives to attract investment
  5. Build community infrastructure through co-working and incubators

As AI reshapes economies, Barranquilla demonstrates that next-gen talent ecosystems can—and must—be built from the ground up, with collaboration, clarity, and culture at their core. Whether you’re a startup founder, government official, or educator, the lessons from Barranquilla’s 15-year journey are clear: connect, cultivate, and champion your AI workforce—and watch your region thrive.

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Prem Kumar, Humanly.io

From Ghosted to Engaged: The Rise of Two-Way AI Chats | Humanly.io

Have you ever sent out a job application, poured your hopes into it, only to face silence—being “ghosted” by recruiters? You’re not alone. Prem Kumar, co-founder of Humanly, faced this exact frustration, igniting a spark that led to the creation of an AI platform designed to revolutionize how companies interact with candidates.

In a recent episode of the Tesoro AI Podcast hosted by Darius Gant, Prem shares how Humanly is turning passive applications into meaningful dialogues using AI-driven conversations. Gone are the days of one-sided, impersonal interactions. Humanly’s AI facilitates authentic two-way engagement via SMS, email, voice, and chat, ensuring no candidate is left feeling invisible.

Real Conversations, Real Transparency

Humanly’s AI platform incorporates local compliance seamlessly, providing candidates immediate and clear answers tailored to their specific questions, even sensitive topics like salary expectations.

An Invisible, Integrated Experience

Humanly doesn’t force recruiters to juggle multiple tools or complicated interfaces. Instead, it integrates smoothly into existing applicant tracking systems (ATS) and HRIS platforms, streamlining candidate management effortlessly.

Ethical AI: Auditing and Accountability

One of Humanly’s standout innovations is its commitment to ethical AI usage. With embedded auditing processes, Humanly actively detects and mitigates biases in real-time, ensuring fairness and inclusivity are at the forefront of every interaction.

Your Personal Career Coach

Beyond initial interactions, Humanly introduces groundbreaking tools like a voice-activated career coach, preparing candidates thoroughly for interviews and guiding them proactively through the hiring journey. This proactive support transforms candidate experiences, enhancing confidence and readiness.

Engaging Candidates at Scale

At its core, Humanly isn’t just tech—it’s a new approach to meaningful human interaction at scale. It demonstrates how empathy, transparency, and two-way dialogue can coexist powerfully with advanced technology.

Ready to Dive Deeper?

Listen to the full podcast episode to explore how Humanly is reshaping candidate engagement through genuine conversations powered by AI.

Stay ahead of the curve. Engage authentically. Experience the Humanly difference.

🎧 Listen Now

 

Masked Tech Worker

Unmasking the AI Applicant: Strategies to Detect and Prevent Hiring Scams

Hiring AI talent isn’t just about finding a great resume—it’s about uncovering what’s real beneath the surface.

As AI continues to evolve at breakneck speed, so do the people looking to exploit it. We recently had a real-life encounter at Tesoro AI where a candidate presented as the “perfect” AI engineer: an overqualified résumé, strange response delays, a reluctance to turn on their camera—and ultimately a web of half-truths that unraveled mid-interview.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Welcome to the AI hiring Wild West.

A Real-World Red Flag: The “Perfect” AI Resume

The candidate’s credentials sparkled with top-tier AI startups, but the behavior didn’t match the profile. Suspicious lag times between responses, awkward avoidance of a video call, and strangely generic answers painted a different picture. Eventually, it all crumbled: the roles were “just fictitious,” the English was inconsistent despite an Ivy League degree, and the camera mysteriously was not working.

It was an AI-infused impersonation attempt—one of many quietly creeping into the hiring ecosystem.

The Sophistication of AI-Enabled Scams

Gone are the days when fake resumes could be spotted with a quick glance. Today’s fraudsters come armed with generative AI tools, and synthetic voice tech that mimic human interaction with unnerving precision.

Here’s how some of these tactics work:

  • Generative AI-written resumes can help candidates showcase real skills more clearly—but when it’s used to invent roles, inflate achievements, or gloss over gaps, it becomes deceptive.
  • AI-enabled interview answers where candidates leverage software working in the background to answer interview questions versus relying on earned knowledge and experience.

These scams are not just about securing a job—they can serve as entry points for data theft, internal sabotage, or client misrepresentation.

Why AI Recruitment Needs a Human Touch

In this era of deception, AI alone can’t police AI hiring.

The paradox? Many companies now rely on automated tools to screen candidates—tools that excel at parsing technical keywords but fall short at detecting soft skill nuances, cultural alignment, or conversational authenticity.

That’s where real insight matters.

Soft skills like integrity, empathy, and communication are often what expose the truth in an interview. But these don’t come through in resumes. They come through in subtle interactions, the kind that only experienced, human-led recruitment can catch.

How Tesoro AI Ensures Authenticity

At Tesoro AI, we’re not just aware of this new hiring frontier—we’re on the frontlines.

Our methodology is built on two pillars: deep client understanding and human-guided candidate communication. We take time to understand what truly defines success on your team: how your culture operates, how communication flows, and what behaviors lead to high performance.

Then, we mirror that understanding back to candidates—not just to verify skills, but to assess fit. This helps us uncover whether a candidate’s presence matches their paper.

We also:

  • Conduct real-time video vetting to ensure authenticity.
  • Prioritize live interviews over recorded content.
  • Vet candidates for conversational fluency and problem-solving agility.
  • Maintain an active talent pipeline across Latin America, where we have deep networks and local expertise.

Actionable Steps: How to Detect AI Impostors

Organizations can strengthen their defense by integrating some critical hiring practices:

  • Require Early Video Calls

    Look for audio-video sync issues, stiff body language, or delayed answers.

  • Ask Off-Script Questions

    Impromptu technical or behavioral prompts reveal genuine understanding.

  • Evaluate Communication Fluency

    Notice mismatches between claimed background and language use.

  • Verify Past Employers

    Call companies directly—AI frauds often list ambiguous contract roles.

  • Leverage Regional Specialists

    Work with partners like Tesoro AI, who have on-the-ground knowledge and validation processes.

Conclusion: Authenticity is the New Differentiator

As AI continues to reshape industries, ensuring the authenticity of your AI team becomes just as important as evaluating their ability. Real innovation doesn’t come from fabricated resumes—it comes from human talent aligned with your mission, your culture, and your vision.

The new frontier in AI hiring isn’t just technical—it’s ethical. And in a world of deepfakes, the companies that thrive will be those that invest in real relationships, rigorous vetting, and empathetic hiring practices.

Because when it comes to AI, what’s real matters more than ever.

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Hiring for AI? Soft Skills Might Be Your Hardest Challenge

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, technical prowess is no longer the sole determinant of success. As AI systems become more integrated into various sectors, the demand for professionals who possess not only technical skills but also strong soft skills has surged. This shift underscores the importance of empathy, adaptability, and ethical reasoning in AI roles.

The Rising Importance of Soft Skills in AI

Recent insights from industry leaders highlight this trend. Peter Schwartz, Chief Futures Officer at Salesforce, emphasized that empathy and collaboration are becoming more crucial than coding skills in the AI era. He noted that while AI can handle routine tasks, human empathy—the ability to understand, relate, and work creatively with others—distinguishes valuable team members in the workplace.

This perspective is echoed by findings from a study analyzing job postings and industry practices, which indicate a growing emphasis on soft skills such as curiosity, critical thinking, empathy, and ethical awareness for data scientists working on AI-powered projects.

Challenges in Assessing Soft Skills

Despite their importance, evaluating soft skills remains a challenge. Traditional hiring processes often prioritize technical assessments, leaving a gap in effectively measuring interpersonal abilities. Moreover, AI-driven recruitment tools, while efficient, may fall short in assessing qualities like empathy and ethical judgment.

Strategies for Integrating Soft Skills into AI Hiring

To address this gap, organizations can adopt several strategies:

  1. Continuous Training: Invest in ongoing development programs that enhance employees’ soft skills, fostering a culture of empathy and ethical awareness.
  2. Behavioral Interviews: Incorporate questions that explore candidates’ past experiences in teamwork, conflict resolution, and ethical decision-making.
  3. Scenario-Based Assessments: Present candidates with real-world scenarios that require problem-solving and ethical considerations, evaluating their responses for soft skill indicators.
  4. Collaborative Projects: Engage candidates in group tasks or projects during the hiring process to observe their interpersonal dynamics and adaptability.

How Tesoro AI Leads with Soft Skill Precision

At Tesoro AI, we don’t just match candidates to roles—we align people to purpose. We take the time to deeply understand our clients’ culture, values, and team dynamics. This enables us to communicate job opportunities in a way that highlights not only the technical requirements but also the interpersonal qualities most essential for long-term success.

By translating the intangibles—team communication styles, cultural norms, leadership expectations—into actionable candidate criteria, we help our partners identify talent with the soft skills that elevate AI performance. From empathy and ethical judgment to adaptability and team collaboration, our hiring process is engineered to amplify the human side of innovation.

Conclusion

As AI continues to reshape industries, the integration of soft skills into the hiring process isn’t just an option—it’s imperative. Organizations that prioritize empathy, adaptability, and ethical reasoning within their AI teams are better positioned to navigate the ethical, collaborative, and creative challenges of the modern technological landscape.

By embracing a holistic approach to talent acquisition, companies can build AI teams that are not only technically brilliant but also emotionally intelligent—resilient, innovative, and socially responsible.

Because when it comes to hiring for AI in 2025, soft skills might just be your hardest challenge—and your greatest opportunity.

Sources

  1. Leça, M. de M., & Santos, R. de S. (2025). Curious, critical thinker, empathetic, and ethically responsible: Essential soft skills for data scientists in software engineering. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.02088
  2. Ming, L. C. (2025, May). A Salesforce exec tells BI there’s an even more important skill for employees than coding. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/salesforce-skill-important-coding-empathy-engineer-peter-schwartz-2025-5

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Beyond Automation: Human-Centric Strategies in AI Recruitment

The AI Talent Conundrum: Navigating the 2025 Hiring Landscape

As we move through 2025, the artificial intelligence (AI) sector continues its meteoric rise, transforming every corner of the modern enterprise. Yet, beneath the buzz lies a critical tension: the AI revolution is outpacing the availability of skilled professionals. This demand-supply mismatch isn’t just a hiring issue—it’s a strategic bottleneck. Organizations are under pressure to not only find exceptional talent but to do so quickly, efficiently, and at scale.

How Tesoro AI is Leading the Charge

At Tesoro AI, this challenge is not viewed as a roadblock—it’s a call to innovate. Recognizing the intense global competition for AI expertise, Tesoro AI has built a specialized approach to connect high-growth companies with elite AI professionals across Latin America. By focusing on deep technical vetting and understanding the nuanced requirements of AI-driven roles, Tesoro AI bypasses the traditional resume pile and delivers candidates who are not only qualified on paper but impactful in execution.

While giants like OpenAI and Google lure top-tier researchers with million-dollar packages, Tesoro AI helps startups and mid-sized companies compete by tapping into untapped markets, offering flexible staff augmentation models, and removing compliance friction. It’s not about outspending the tech titans—it’s about outsmarting the constraints of the current hiring system.

The Shift Towards Skills-Based Hiring

One of Tesoro AI’s most strategic adaptations to the evolving landscape has been a pivot toward skills-based hiring. Instead of filtering candidates by pedigree, the firm emphasizes demonstrated capabilities—can this person ship models, deploy pipelines, solve real-world problems? This philosophy mirrors a broader industry trend. From 2018 to mid-2024, job postings for AI roles have shown a 15% decline in university degree requirements, and those with proven AI skills now command wage premiums up to 23%.

Tesoro AI leverages this momentum by crafting hiring journeys that prioritize project-based assessments, and cultural fit, ensuring that each candidate is ready to contribute from day one. It’s a model that reduces time-to-fill, enhances retention, and fuels innovation at the teams building tomorrow’s AI systems.

AI’s Role in Recruitment Processes

Ironically, while AI is central to the talent shortage, it’s also being leveraged to streamline recruitment. AI-driven tools assist in resume screening, candidate assessments, and interview scheduling, enhancing efficiency and reducing time-to-hire. However, these tools are not without challenges. A lawsuit against Workday alleges its AI hiring tool disproportionately disqualifies applicants over 40, highlighting concerns about bias in automated recruitment .

The Human Element in AI Integration

While AI offers numerous benefits, it’s not a panacea. Companies like Klarna, which replaced 700 employees with AI tools, have found that human expertise remains indispensable. Two years later, Klarna is rehiring humans to restore service standards, acknowledging that AI fell short in delivering effective customer service .

Strategies for Bridging the Talent Gap

To navigate the AI talent conundrum, organizations should consider the following strategies:

  1. Invest in Upskilling: Encourage continuous learning and development programs to equip existing employees with AI-related skills.
  2. Adopt Inclusive Hiring Practices: Implement measures to ensure AI-driven recruitment tools are free from biases and promote diversity.
  3. Leverage Global Talent Pools: Explore talent acquisition beyond traditional markets, tapping into regions like Latin America to find skilled professionals at competitive rates.
  4. Collaborate with Specialized Firms: Partner with organizations like Tesoro AI that specialize in connecting AI teams with top talent across the Americas, ensuring access to a diverse and qualified candidate pool.

Conclusion

The integration of AI into various facets of business operations presents both opportunities and challenges. As organizations strive to stay competitive in this dynamic landscape, adopting innovative recruitment strategies and fostering inclusive hiring practices will be crucial. By understanding and adapting to these trends, companies can build resilient and future-proof AI teams.

 

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The AI Talent Paradox: Why 2025’s Hiring Revolution Demands a Human Touch

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In 2025, artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s a foundational force reshaping how organizations operate, innovate, and, most crucially, how they build their teams. From Medellín to Miami, AI is transforming not only the tools we use but also the very fabric of talent acquisition. Yet, amid this technological upheaval, a paradox emerges: while AI promises efficiency and scalability, the need for human-centric hiring practices has never been more critical.

The Great Hesitation: Navigating Uncertainty in Tech Hiring

The tech industry is experiencing what some are calling the “Great Hesitation.” Economic uncertainties, rapid AI advancements, and heightened scrutiny in hiring processes have led to a cautious approach among both employers and job seekers. Despite a drop in tech unemployment to 4.6%, the sector saw a loss of approximately 214,000 jobs in April alone, driven by widespread layoffs across companies of all sizes.

This environment has made companies more selective, often pausing job postings or seeking candidates with broader skill sets, particularly in AI. Job seekers, in turn, face longer hiring processes and increased demands for diverse skills, especially in AI integration.(WSJ)

Agentic AI: Redefining Roles and Responsibilities

Agentic AI—systems capable of autonomous decision-making and adaptation—is at the forefront of this transformation. At Tesoro AI, we leverage agentic AI workflows to streamline recruitment and workforce planning, enabling AI teams to be built and sustained in a fraction of the time as traditional processes. Our tools autonomously engage candidates, assess them in real time alongside our technical recruiters, and build holistic profiles by integrating data across various platforms.

However, the rise of agentic AI also necessitates new roles and skill sets. Positions such as agent operations specialists, prompt engineers, and AI ethicists are becoming increasingly vital. This shift underscores the need for talent that can bridge the gap between AI capabilities and human oversight.(@EconomicTimes)

Skills Over Degrees: The Shift to Competency-Based Hiring

Traditional hiring practices that prioritize degrees and job titles are giving way to skills-based hiring. Employers are increasingly focusing on demonstrable skills, recognizing that this approach leads to fairer hiring processes and better candidate-job fit. AI-powered assessment platforms now analyze thousands of data points to evaluate not just technical competencies but also cultural fit and adaptability. (Oleeo)

This transition is particularly beneficial for candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, opening doors for a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The Human Element: Balancing Automation with Empathy

While AI offers numerous advantages in streamlining hiring processes, it also presents challenges. Instances of AI-driven interviews malfunctioning or creating impersonal experiences have raised concerns among job seekers. For example, a candidate’s unsettling experience with an AI recruiter repeating nonsensical phrases highlighted the potential pitfalls of over-reliance on automation. (Insight Global, New York Post)

Moreover, the use of AI in hiring has led to issues like algorithmic bias and the loss of the human touch in recruitment. Studies have shown that AI systems can perpetuate existing biases, favoring certain demographics over others. (kornferry.com)

These challenges emphasize the importance of maintaining human oversight in AI-driven hiring processes to ensure fairness, empathy, and a positive candidate experience.

Tesoro AI: Bridging the Gap Between Technology and Talent

At Tesoro AI, we understand that while AI is a powerful tool, it is the human element that truly drives innovation and success. Our mission is to connect AI teams with top-tier talent across the Americas, focusing on a human-centered approach to talent acquisition.

We specialize in identifying candidates with the right blend of technical skills and cultural fit, ensuring that organizations not only meet their immediate hiring needs but also build resilient, future-ready teams. By leveraging our deep understanding of both AI technology and human capital, we help companies navigate the complexities of modern hiring landscapes.

Conclusion: Embracing a Balanced Future

As AI continues to evolve, its integration into talent acquisition processes will become more profound. However, the success of these advancements hinges on our ability to balance technological efficiency with human empathy.

Organizations must adopt a holistic approach to hiring—one that leverages AI’s capabilities while preserving the human touch that fosters trust, engagement, and inclusivity. By doing so, they can build dynamic teams equipped to thrive in an ever-changing technological landscape.

At Tesoro AI, we’re committed to guiding companies through this journey, ensuring that the future of work is not only intelligent but also profoundly human.

 

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