AI leaders say proactive, expert support is critical to AI success

Even with the most advanced tech, many teams are hitting a wall. Our recent research with AI leaders confirms what many builders already know: complexity and a lack of in-house expertise are the biggest roadblocks to AI success.

One respondent explains it best: “The biggest barrier is a lack of skilled AI talent. This is causing a delay in our AI adoption, impacting our ability to innovate and keep pace with competitors.” 

Expert support is the bridge between ambition and execution. It empowers teams to reduce risks and move faster to realize the transformative potential of AI. 

The expertise gap: why tech is only half the battle

AI at scale demands a blend of deep technical knowledge, cross-functional coordination, and proactive implementation of best practices. Yet most organizations don’t have this expertise  in-house. In open-ended responses, leaders repeatedly called out the need for “knowledgeable guidance,” “proactive insight,” and “real-time troubleshooting.”

The challenge is compounded by a crowded ecosystem of tools and services. Even skilled teams can struggle to integrate workflows, troubleshoot unexpected errors, or identify the practices that make AI projects successful.

Redefining the role of the cloud provider

This is where expectations for cloud providers are shifting. Leaders are no longer satisfied with platforms that deliver the tech but leave them to figure out the rest. One executive told us: “We’ve dropped cloud providers where the tech was better, but their team wasn’t good enough. They couldn’t keep up with us. We expect thought leadership and knowledgeable support.”

This marks a fundamental redefinition of what it means to be an AI infrastructure provider. Expert, consultative support isn’t optional for today’s AI leaders. In some cases, it’s the deciding factor in whether an organization sticks with a provider or walks away.

This is precisely why Crusoe is purpose-built to provide a different kind of support — deeply specialized, proactive, and ready to guide you from pilot to production.

The bottom line: Expert support is a requirement

AI is too complex and too fast-moving for teams to be navigating it alone. As the technology matures, the winners won’t be those with the most modern infrastructure. They’ll be the ones that surround themselves with the right mix of technology and partnership.

Support is only one piece of successful AI adoption. Our research reveals how leaders are building the foundations of tomorrow's AI. Download the full 2026 AI infrastructure trends report to see what's driving the next wave — and join our live webinar on March 10 to hear Crusoe's product and engineering leaders break down the key findings and what they mean for your infrastructure strategy.