Widespread AI adoption has brought a need for general training as well as reskilling in AI tools. Although some still predict the downfall of the human workforce, the more likely scenario is one of adaptation, not replacement.
To that end, Amazon has announced its AI Ready initiative, with which the company hopes to provide AI skills training to two million people by 2025. The training isn’t just about AI readiness; it’s about unlocking the technical potential of AI and the earning potential of people who use the technology.
AI Training at Scale
Amazon’s training drive is a global initiative targeting adults and younger students and building on the company’s existing free AI training programs. The AI Ready commitment encompasses three separate initiatives.
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These include eight new AI and generative AI courses, the AWS Generative AI Scholarship enabling 50,000 students to access a generative AI course on the Udacity platform, and a generative AI learning program curated alongside Code.org.
The eight new courses are designed for workplace training and they align with the jobs that will be most in demand as AI becomes further ingrained in global business. They include various options for business and technical users, some available through AWS Educate and others through AWS Skills Builder, Amazon’s dedicated training platforms.
Here’s the full line-up:
- Introduction to Generative Artificial Intelligence
- Generative AI Learning Plan for Decision Makers
- Introduction to Amazon CodeWhisperer
- Foundations of Prompt Engineering
- Low-Code Machine Learning on AWS
- Building Language Models on AWS
- Amazon Transcribe—Getting Started
- Building Generative AI Applications Using Amazon Bedrock
The total value of the AWS Generative AI Scholarship is upwards of $12 million, and it will be awarded to high school and university students who would otherwise struggle to cover the cost of the Udacity course independently. In-house AWS AI experts have designed the course, which covers the fundamental principles of generative AI and includes a guided development project.
Finally, the collaboration between Code.org and Amazon Future Engineer, Amazon’s free STEM training and resource initiative, takes the form of Hour of Code Dance Party: AI Edition. In this introduction to coding and AI, students complete the session by creating a virtual music video and, along the way, learn about the relationship between LLMs and predictive analysis for text and image creation. The sessions will occur during Computer Science Education Week from December 4 to 10.
Research Insights Into AI’s Impact
The AI Ready initiative comes on the back of research into the impact of AI on the workforce carried out by AWS and Access Partnership. Their study found that 73% of employers prioritize AI skills in the hiring process, while 75% say they cannot find the talent to meet their requirements.
Furthermore, employees who upskill in AI are expected to earn up to 47% more than their current salaries, and 93% of organizations predict they will be using generative AI within the coming five years. These figures point to a series of potentially positive outcomes.
- AI has the potential to solve many of the fundamental issues facing society, from new ways to address the climate crisis to streamlining healthcare provisions and accelerating early diagnosis.
- Human operators will ultimately have a say on how AI is implemented and what it’s used for so a better-skilled workforce can maximize the impact of AI technologies.
- AI skills will only increase in demand, so users with these skills can command higher salaries. AI may replace lower-skilled jobs, and instead, the workforce will be employed at higher rates and undertake more complex and potentially fulfilling tasks.
While the AI Ready initiative is essential in achieving these goals, other organizations must follow suit to ensure the momentum remains high. However, AI Ready is certainly a milestone in the global transition from an AI-supported workforce to one that embraces AI as a collaborator.
