Some companies invest in AI teams too early, only to realize they don’t have a clear use case. Others hesitate, missing out on competitive advantages.
So, how do you know when it makes sense to hire an AI developer? Single specialist or an entire AI team? And what’s the best way to manage costs while ensuring AI projects deliver results? Igor Izraylevych, CEO & Co-Founder of S-PRO, shares his insights on when hiring AI talent is worth it, how team augmentation works, and why AI expertise comes at a premium.
— Igor, AI is transforming industries, but do you always need an entire AI team, or can hiring a single AI developer be enough?
Igor: Not every business needs a full in-house AI team. In many cases, hiring an AI developer is the smarter choice. One experienced AI specialist can handle adding AI-powered features to an existing product.
The same goes for prototyping. No need to invest in a full team if you just want to test an idea. Bring in an AI developer to build a proof of concept and see if the technology delivers the results you expect.
Another case is AI model customization. Many businesses try using pre-trained AI models but realize they don’t work as expected for their specific industry. An AI developer can fine-tune the model to make it more accurate and relevant.
So, yes, hiring a dedicated AI developer makes perfect sense for companies that need AI expertise without the overhead of managing an entire department.
— That makes sense. But how does AI team augmentation work if a company already has an in-house tech team?
Igor: AI team augmentation is a flexible way to add AI expertise without restructuring your existing team. The typical process is the following:
- Bring in an AI specialist who works alongside, if your developers don’t have AI expertise;
- Speed up the project with an external AI developer if your project is facing a tight deadline;
- Expand your team without long-term hiring commitments, if you want to scale temporarily.
— You also mentioned CTO-as-a-Service. Can you explain how that works and when businesses should consider it?
Igor: Sure. Not every company needs a full-time Chief Technology Officer (CTO), especially if we are talking about startups and mid-sized businesses. But AI projects require strong technical leadership.
That’s what CTO-as-a-Service is about – instead of hiring a full-time CTO, you can bring in an AI-focused executive on a fractional basis.
This model works well if:
- You’re a startup without a tech lead and need AI guidance.
- You’re scaling your AI product and need a strategic technology roadmap.
- You’ve got a tech team, but they lack experience with AI infra or deployment.
Artificial intelligence adoption isn’t just about algorithms. Many business owners I speak with say their main struggle with AI adoption isn’t the tools, but the lack of leadership to make it work.
— AI developers are in high demand, and their salaries are much higher than traditional software engineers. Why is AI talent so expensive?
Igor: AI developers typically cost 20% more than other software engineers, and there are a few reasons for that.
- Specialized skills – AI isn’t just about coding. Developers need expertise in machine learning, neural networks, data science, and statistics. That takes years to master.
- Limited supply – AI talent is scarce. The demand is high, and companies compete for the best developers.
- Computational resources – AI requires powerful GPUs, cloud computing, and massive datasets. These add to the overall cost of development.
- Constant learning – AI evolves rapidly. The best developers stay ahead of new research and techniques, making their expertise even more valuable.
That said, investing in AI developers pays off. Businesses that work with experienced AI professionals get more accurate models, better automation, and AI solutions that actually deliver results.
— What’s your advice for businesses considering AI but unsure where to start?
Igor: My advice is start small, but start smart. You don’t need to build an AI-powered product overnight. Instead:
- Identify one AI “area-of-impact” – whether it’s automating customer support, improving financial forecasting, or detecting fraud.
- Work with an AI expert to build a prototype. You’ll quickly see if AI makes sense for your business.
- Scale gradually – once you see value, you can expand AI integration step by step.
— To wrap up?
Igor: AI is not a trend – it’s a tool. Businesses that adopt AI strategically will have a huge advantage in the coming years. The key is not just artificial intelligence development but building the right one. That’s where working with experienced AI developers makes all the difference.