Microsoft has launched a new initiative to close the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills gap. The AI Skills Initiative seeks to enable people and communities worldwide to leverage AI's power effectively.

The initiative, announced by Kate Behncken, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Philanthropies, comprises free coursework in collaboration with LinkedIn, a new open global grant challenge in partnership with data.org, and increased access to free digital learning resources.

Microsoft's recent Work Trend Index indicates that AI is positioned to revolutionize work procedures as the pace of information work intensifies. However, many employees feel overwhelmed by information searches during their workday. Microsoft aims to address this by training workers in AI, allowing them to streamline work processes.

Part of the initiative, the Generative AI Skills Grant Challenge, is an open grant program to help nonprofits, social enterprise, research, and academic institutions train the workforce to utilize generative AI. The grant will focus on organizations working on skilling and economic growth, emphasizing implementing generative AI fairly and equitably, particularly within historically marginalized populations.

Successful grant applicants will receive financial support and access to a cohort experience, Microsoft events, Azure-based cloud computing resources, data training, and technical guidance from Microsoft and GitHub experts. The application deadline for the grant is August 15, 2023.

In collaboration with LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft also offers the first Professional Certificate on Generative AI in the online learning market as part of its Skills for Jobs program. The coursework is available in English and will soon be offered in Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese.

I recently finished the "Career Essentials in Generative AI by Microsoft and LinkedIn" course and highly recommend it to journalists. The section on streamlining work with Microsoft Bing Chat was particularly valuable, as it showed how journalists could use AI to automate routine tasks and free up their time for more creative work. Microsoft Bing Chat can automate tasks such as gathering data, summarizing articles, and finding relevant sources. This can save journalists significant time, which they can then use to focus on more important tasks. Also, Microsoft Bing Chat can assist journalists in generating content, such as headlines, blog posts, and social media posts. This can help journalists to create simple content more quickly and efficiently. Lastly, Microsoft Bing Chat can also be used to communicate with sources. This can be a more efficient way to gather information, allowing journalists to communicate with sources in real-time.

Through this project, students will learn about introductory concepts of AI, including a look at responsible AI frameworks, and receive a Career Essentials certificate when they pass the assessment. This Professional Certificate on Generative AI is currently available in English and will launch in Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese over the coming months on LinkedIn Learning.

Furthermore, a trainer toolkit will be launched for educators who are central to providing skilling resources and training to local communities. This includes a new AI course for educators by Microsoft Education and content on practical uses of AI.

The AI Skills Initiative is a continuation of Microsoft's commitment to equipping people with digital skills to ensure they stay caught up in the digital economy. Microsoft has already reached millions through their Skills for Jobs program, providing people with new career paths in the digital sector.

Microsoft's President and Vice Chair Brad Smith encapsulated the company's mission: "AI offers perhaps even more potential for the good of humanity than any invention that has preceded it."

Behncken assures that this is just the first step, with many more initiatives and partnerships in the pipeline. As AI's potential continues to spark interest and excitement, Microsoft is eager to continue fostering an environment of learning and growth in the field.

source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/microsofts-launches-new-ai-skills-training-resources-part-behncken/