AI (Artificial Intelligence) is transforming the world, and the workforce, in unprecedented ways. As a result, the demand for skilled AI workers in all fields is booming. AI is reshaping the way employees work, communicate and collaborate with each other. By automating the repetitive and routine jobs, it’s allowing human workers to focus on the complex and creative tasks that can grow the business, as well as learn new skills faster. Data and trends can be analysed more effectively, which allows organisations to get better insights into their own business, and to forecast strategically.

In terms of the workforce, AI offers a huge increase in terms of potential productivity. With remote working becoming the norm, AI can be used to ensure this model is both productive and sustainable. AI can be used to optimise a collaborative environment, assess work performance, and even keep track of employees’ well-being. By helping to power virtual reality and augmented reality, AI can create immersive online workplaces that are more engaging and versatile for their users.

With the optimal use of AI, organisations will benefit from a faster, more agile, and better connected workforce. It’s not surprising that AI skills are highly sought after, and demand for them is increasing.

The vast majority of organisations plan to use AI-powered solutions within the next few years, and workers who acquire AI expertise will be sought after, and able to command higher salaries. Employers will be willing to invest more in employees who are able to harness the power of AI for increased efficiencies, enhanced productivity, and improved decision-making ability within the workplace.

There is currently a shortage of available talent, and this widening skills gap can only be bridged with relevant training and education programmes.

The biggest need for AI will be in the IT department, but coding is not the only skill sought after. Creativity and critical thinking skills are also in high demand, and these skills can be harnessed and enhanced through the power of AI.

AI skills are also needed in other aspects of a business, including sales, marketing and human resources. The biggest benefits required are automating employees’ tasks, improving workflows and outcomes, enhancing communications and helping employees to learn new skills. AI-powered education can easily adapt to each individual learner, allowing them to work at their own pace.

Generative AI’s ability to create conversations, stories, images, videos and music is becoming more and more sought after. It’s going to be widely used to increase innovation and creativity, as well as enhance communication and boost learning.

The vast majority of employees want to develop, and improve, the skills to use AI effectively in order to enhance their career prospects.

AWS has already trained more than 100,000 people in South Africa on cloud skills since 2017. Now, the company is introducing AI-specific training initiatives to help bridge the gap.

Amazon’s new initiative, “AI Ready”, will provide free AI skills training and education resources to two million people globally by 2025. To achieve this goal, AWS is launching new initiatives for adults and young learners, and scaling their existing free AI training programmes, removing cost as a barrier to accessing these critical skills. It includes the following initiatives:

Amazon Web Services has released eight new, free, generative AI courses, which are available on AWS Skill Builder and AWS Educate, digital learning centres for people with all backgrounds and levels of experience. The courses for developers range from foundational to advanced levels, and courses for nontechnical audiences help explain the basics of generative AI.

AWS will offer more than 50 000 underserved and underrepresented high school and university students globally the opportunity to learn foundational generative AI concepts and guide them through a hands-on project with access to a new generative AI course on Udacity.

Focusing on the youth, Amazon Future Engineer has collaborated with Code.org to launch an hour-long experience that helps students from kindergarten upwards to learn about generative AI. Because AI is ever-evolving, its use in the workplace is going to create an environment where continuous learning becomes the norm. There will be a growing demand for skilled employees that can channel its development and use. The synergy between AI and human talent will help future-proof organisations, and contribute to a culture of innovation and adaptability.

Looking to the future, it’s clear that employers and employees are expecting these fast-evolving AI tools to deliver substantial benefits in the workplace. However, the technology can only be used to its fullest with the correct preparation and training.

To take advantage of Amazon’s free skills training, visit AWS Skills Centre Cape Town for in-person and virtual courses, and explore more than 100 AI, ML, and generative AI courses and learning resources on AWS Educate and AWS Skill Builder.

https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/aws/first-international-aws-skills-center-cape-town