AI seems to be the most discussed topic, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down as it creeps into every aspect of our lives. Social Media, art, music, movies, and more have fallen prey recently to the invasive idea of AI taking over and what it means for the actor, the worker, and the creator.
Because of this, companies want to know more than ever, how AI will affect their company, their earnings, and their impact, and most of all, how can they capture lightning in a bottle and use it for their benefit.
If you have AI skills, the job market is looking pretty nice right now.
Finding AI Talent
According to an HR Dive Brief report, nearly 75% of employers are hiring workers with artificial intelligence skills, but according to a recent survey by Amazon Web Services, they are struggling to find talented candidates.
That same report stated that organizations would be willing to hike pay levels for AI-skilled workers by an average of 43% in sales and marketing; 42% in finance; 37% in legal, regulatory, and compliance; and 35% in human resources.
Back in August, The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. companies are in an “AI recruiting frenzy.” The article described that some companies were willing to approach seven-figure salaries to attract the right talent.
“The anticipated pay premiums across departments is because AI’s key benefits — automating tasks, boosting creativity, and improving outcomes — have dispersed applications across departments and tasks,” the report said. “Employers anticipate that workers with AI skills will be able to drive additional productivity and higher-quality work, which would command a salary increase.”
Amazon and Microsoft Offering Training
The number one takeaway from the AWS survey was that most organizations will use AI by 2028. Almost all businesses surveyed believe that AI will positively impact them to some degree.
One strategy that all job seekers should be aware of is that companies are partnering with education institutions and leveraging on-demand gig workers.
Amazon unveiled a new initiative that will provide free AI skills training and education to two million people globally by 2025.
The release from Amazon stated, “Artificial intelligence is the most transformative technology of our generation. If we are going to unlock the full potential of AI to tackle the world’s most challenging problems, we need to make AI education accessible to anyone with a desire to learn.”
Through the AWS Generative AI Scholarship, AWS will provide Udacity scholarships, valued at more than $12 million, to more than 50,000 high school and university students from underserved and underrepresented communities globally.
“We want to help as many students as possible,” the release continued. “Eligible students can take the new Udacity course Introducing Generative AI with AWS for free. The course, which was designed by AI experts at AWS, introduces students to foundational generative AI concepts and guides them through a hands-on project. Upon successful course completion, students earn a certificate from Udacity to showcase their knowledge to future employers.”
Microsoft also announced in October that it would be launching its initiative, which will include free AI coursework developed with LinkedIn.
“To begin addressing this need, today we are launching a new AI Skills Initiative to help people and communities around the world learn how to harness the power of AI,” said Kate Behnchen, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Philanthropies, in a statement. “The Microsoft AI Skills Initiative includes new, free coursework developed with LinkedIn, including the first Professional Certificate on Generative AI in the online learning market; a new open global grant challenge in coordination with data.org to uncover new ways of training workers on generative AI; and greater access to free digital learning events and resources for everyone to improve their AI fluency.”
It seems pretty clear that top companies are willing to produce free education to gain an edge in the AI workforce, and it doesn’t seem to be a trend that will slow down.
How will you gain the edge in the job market when it comes to AI skills?
