Staffing the sphere of artificial intelligence with higher-educated personnel

The development in the sphere of artificial intelligence and the introduction of its technologies in the sectors of the Russian economy is a priority task. Within knowledge-based economy, the resource to provide this development is highly qualified personnel. Our article examines the sources of supplying the staff demand in the sphere of artificial intelligence. The main sources are as follows: higher-educated graduates of the corresponding educational programs, self-educated and/ or professionally re-trained workers with higher education. The methodological basis of the study is the balance method, applied to poll and statistical data. It is found out that the demand for personnel with higher education in the sphere of artificial intelligence is going to be supplied by university graduates only at the level of 35 % in the nearest future, which is below the average for the Russian economy. The total contribution of all the sources considered will provide only 70 % of the demanded higher-educated staff. A qualitative analysis of meeting the demand made it possible to identify deficient groups of educational specialties, as well as to form a list of leading universities in training personnel with necessary competencies. This study is the first attempt to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze the sources of covering the staff demands in the Russian sphere of artificial intelligence. The work practically specifies the volume of necessary training, determines the provision with staff according to different groups of specialties / areas of training, and identifies training centers for such personnel. When making system management decisions on adjusting admission quotas, when developing educational programs and professional standards in the sphere of artificial intelligence, this article might be of use for directors and employees of relevant departments, as well as for representatives of the corresponding scientific and educational communities.