The major technology corporation IBM (NYSE: IBM) has committed to providing artificial intelligence training to two million people by the end of 2026. The company says the initiative will involve collaborations with an assortment of different universities and non-profits throughout the globe and will focus on empowering a variety of underrepresented communities.
The commitment announced Monday will involve integrating new AI coursework into the company’s IBM SkillsBuild program, which was established to provide useful skills and ensuing career opportunities to those communities at no cost. The program already provided education on AI chatbots, fundamentals, ethics and other topics related to the emerging technology prior to IBM announcing the new endeavour.
IBM SkillsBuild offers free courses on other topics such as cybersecurity, cloud computing and data analysis as well. The online platform has over 1,000 courses offered in 20 different languages.
“AI skills will be essential to tomorrow’s workforce,” said IBM’s Vice President Justina Nixon-Saintil.
“That’s why we are investing in AI training, with a commitment to reach two million learners in three years, and expanding IBM SkillsBuild to collaborate with universities and non-profits on new generative AI education for learners all over the world,” she added.
Faculty at partnering universities will obtain access to training lectures and immersive skill-developing workshops created by the company and those who complete the training will receive certificates and IBM-branded digital credentials to add to their portfolio. The coursework will include topics such as prompt-writing, generative AI in action, getting started with machine learning and improving customer service with AI.
IBM hosted its TechXchange conference on AI technologies last week, which had sponsors such as Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and private software companies like Apptio and Rocket Software.
You’re looking at the #IBMTechXchange Conference – designed for technologists.
This week, 3,000+ attendees are coming together to advance their technical skills and expertise through IBM. Dive deeper into #AI topics through on-demand keynotes: https://t.co/mj0FidgGwP pic.twitter.com/Y8LP4AA5wF
— IBM (@IBM) September 13, 2023
Read more: Artificial Intelligence can support early detection of ALS
Read more: Biden secures 8 additional safety pledges from influential AI developers
IBM is a major influence in the development of AI tech
IBM recently met with United States government representatives in the White House and pledged to develop artificial intelligence technologies in a safe and responsible manner.
The company made the safety pledge to the Biden-Harris Administration alongside other major technology companies like Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE) and NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA).
At the end of August, the company partnered with Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) to harness the combined power of their AI knowledge and help accelerate the adoption of the technology among different businesses.
IBM has developed an “enterprise studio for AI” called Watsonx.ai, which is designed to help businesses develop AI models for their specific needs.
IBM shares rose by 2.25 per cent Wednesday to US$149.83 on the New York Stock Exchange and have steadily risen by over 18 per cent in the past six months.
rowan@mugglehead.com
