Amazon has just introduced an initiative named “AI Ready” with a bold mission to equip 2 million people worldwide with essential artificial intelligence (AI) skills by 2025. This program is a direct response to the rising demand for AI expertise in the workforce.
The initiative offers a diverse set of resources, including eight free courses covering various aspects of AI and generative AI. Additionally, “AI Ready” will provide scholarships and collaborate with educational platforms to make these resources accessible to as many people as possible.
The impetus behind “AI Ready” stems from a significant finding in an AWS study, revealing that a staggering 73% of employers actively seek candidates with AI skills. Furthermore, individuals with proficiency in AI can potentially earn up to 47% more in salary compared to their counterparts lacking AI expertise.
“AI Ready” is not just an educational initiative; it’s a transformative effort by Amazon to bridge the AI skills gap, ensuring that more individuals globally have the opportunity to acquire valuable AI knowledge. As the program unfolds, it is poised to have a lasting impact on the workforce, empowering people with the skills needed for the jobs of the future.
“AI Ready” from Amazon emerges as a direct response to the increasing demand for AI skills in the job market. The initiative sets an ambitious target: to offer free AI skills training to 2 million individuals worldwide by the year 2025. To realize this vision, Amazon is rolling out new initiatives tailored for both adults and young learners.
Recognizing the importance of accessibility, Amazon is committed to eliminating financial barriers by scaling up its existing free AI training programs. This move aims to ensure that cost does not hinder anyone from gaining the essential skills needed in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.
“AI Ready” signifies Amazon’s dedication to democratizing AI education, making it available to a broad and diverse audience. By extending these opportunities to both adults and young learners, Amazon is not only addressing the current demand for AI skills but also nurturing a future-ready workforce. The initiative embodies a proactive approach to equip individuals with the tools they need to thrive in an AI-driven world.
Swami Sivasubramanian, Vice President of Data and AI at AWS, emphasizes the profound impact of artificial intelligence as the most transformative technology in our generation. He underscores the importance of unlocking the full potential of AI to address the world’s most challenging problems. According to Sivasubramanian, the key to achieving this lies in making AI education accessible to anyone with a desire to learn. This statement reflects a commitment to democratizing AI knowledge, recognizing that widespread access to education is crucial for harnessing the power of AI to solve complex global issues.
The “AI Ready” initiative is designed to benefit both existing professionals and the upcoming generation of workers. To cater to current professionals, the program will provide eight brand new AI courses entirely free of charge. This approach ensures that individuals already in the workforce have access to AI education, enabling them to stay relevant and competitive in an ever-evolving technological landscape. The initiative acknowledges the importance of equipping both current and future professionals with the necessary skills to thrive in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
“There is something for everyone with courses ranging from foundational to advanced and for business leaders as well as technologists. These courses augment the 80+ free and low-cost AI and generative AI courses and resources provided through AWS.”
Amazon and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are making a substantial investment, exceeding $12 million, to extend educational opportunities to over 50,000 high school and university students globally. This initiative is specifically tailored to support underserved and underrepresented communities in gaining knowledge about artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing.
The comprehensive efforts include providing scholarships, offering free courses, and hosting coding events. As part of this initiative, there’s a free Udacity course focused on generative AI, allowing students to delve into this field. Additionally, a collaborative coding event named “Hour of Code Dance Party: AI Edition” in partnership with Code.org aims to make coding engaging and accessible.
One of the long-term commitments involves providing cloud computing skills training to millions of individuals by the year 2025. This initiative aligns with the broader goal of empowering diverse communities with the skills needed to navigate the evolving landscape of AI and cloud technologies. Amazon and AWS are taking proactive steps to bridge educational gaps and foster inclusivity in these transformative fields.
