American tech company Microsoft has launched a new training initiative in Australia and New Zealand. This project will look to upskill 1 million people in Artificial Intelligence, helping them build AI systems and teaching them to use AI technology in daily activities.
“Microsoft has today launched a new AI Skills Initiative to help one million people in Australia and New Zealand secure the skills they need to thrive in the AI economy”, the company confirmed in a blog post. Microsoft hopes to achieve this goal by 2026.
As part of this training program, Microsoft has promised to provide free resources through its platforms. These include Microsoft Learn, Viva Learning, LinkedIn, GitHub, and AI Skills Navigator. Microsoft has also said it will work with government institutions, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations to make the training relevant.
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AI-skilled Workforce
This latest endeavor builds on Microsoft’s long-term goal of creating an AI-skilled workforce. In 2023, the company started a two-year program for 300,000 Australians in digital skills. The recent advancements in AI are paving the way for a new economy, which will create new jobs. According to Microsoft, AI could create up to “200,000 AI-related jobs in Australia alone by 2030.”
Speaking on the potential AI holds for Australia and New Zealand’s economy, Steven Worrall, Managing Director at Microsoft Australia and New Zealand, said, “AI is a new general-purpose technology that can boost productivity across every sector and create new markets. We need to ensure that as many people as possible can access and benefit from the technology.”
