By Jay Bemis | Advertising Systems Inc.Noting that the emergence and popularity of artificial intelligence have resulted in a 21-fold increase in job listings that mention AI technologies, Google last week announced a major training initiative designed to increase AI skills throughout the country’s workforce.
At the heart of the initiative is a Google AI Essentials course, a 10-hour, “self-paced” course that will cost $49 and train workers in using AI tools, Google said.
During the video course, taught by Google AI experts, students will gain an introduction to AI, learn how to write effective prompts and be able to identify AI’s potential biases and harm.
Also a key part of the initiative is Google turning to its $75-million Google AI Opportunity Fund, offered through the company’s philanthropic arm, to enable at least 1 million Americans to take the AI Essentials course and learn basic generative AI skills.
The opportunity fund will provide grants to workforce development and education organizations, such as Goodwill, to take the course. That funding will be aimed particularly at rural and underserved workers, public sector workers, students and educators, small businesses and nonprofits, Google said.
In addition to Goodwill, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families will be among early grant recipients.
“In this course you’ll learn from our own AI experts at Google and gain hands-on experience using AI,” said Lisa Gevelber, founder of Grow with Google.
She said students will learn how to use AI tools to help them in:
- Developing ideas and content. “If you’re stuck at the beginning of a project, use AI tools to help you brainstorm new ideas,” Gevelber said. “In the course, you’ll use a conversational AI tool to generate concepts for a product and develop a presentation to pitch the product.”
- Making more informed decisions. “Let’s say you’re planning an event. AI tools can help you research the best location to host it based on your criteria. You can also use AI to help you come up with a tagline or slogan.”
- Speeding up daily work tasks. “Clear out that inbox faster using AI to help you summarize emails and draft responses.”
Throughout the course, Gevelber said, “you’ll learn how to write effective prompts to get the results you’re looking for and how to identify AI’s potential biases so you can use it responsibly.”
The $49 essentials course will be offered on Coursera, an online learning platform.
“AI offers significant opportunities to accelerate economic growth, particularly if people have access to the right resources and training,” said James Manyika, Google senior vice president for research, technology & society.
“Google.org’s new AI Opportunity Fund and Google’s AI Essentials Course are important next steps in our commitment to ensure everyone, everywhere can access AI training.”
With more than 80% of Americans living within 10 miles of a Goodwill, it’s expected that organization will be able to offer Google’s AI Essentials course at scale to many local communities at no cost.
“Beginning in 2017, our digital skills training work with Google.org has unlocked new opportunities for hundreds of thousands of workers, including many in lower-wage jobs,” said Steve Preston, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International.
“By expanding our efforts and leveraging Google’s new AI Essentials course, we can help US jobseekers attain the core digital and AI skills needed to step into well-paying jobs and greater prospects for economic mobility.”
