Closing the AI Skills Gap
We have reached the point of AI (artificial intelligence) adoption where many are beginning to realize the only way forward is now through education. Many technology providers are now partnering with universities to bring learning and research to the future of work.
From the state of Washington to New Jersey, new collaborations are demonstrating how education is becoming a central strategy for responsible AI adoption.
What’s Happening in Washington State
To get started, let’s travel to the state of Washington. Here we see the University of Washington and Microsoft have announced an expansion to their decades-long partnership, with a focus on accelerating AI discovery to prepare students and workers to use AI responsibly.
This partnership will expand internships and applied research opportunities for students. It will also develop community AI literacy programs, including a foundational AI course for working Washingtonians. We also see it will launch a new initiative to connect staff and students with real-world research opportunities at Microsoft.
Additionally, beginning this fall, the University of Washington and Microsoft will launch a new collaboration on Microsoft’s Redmond campus that will co-develop select courses and learning experiences for Microsoft employees, while enabling university students to learn alongside industry professionals.
What’s Happening in Indiana
Moving east to Indiana, we see Purdue University and Google Public Sector are deepening their long-standing collaboration, with a partnership aimed to advance AI-enabled education, accelerate AI innovation, and expand AI workforce development.
This multiyear strategic commitment provides students, faculty and researchers with Google Cloud’s full AI-optimized tech stack and high-performance computing power. With a commitment to Google Partnership for Accelerated Research program, Purdue students, faculty, researchers, and staff can access Google Cloud’s AI enterprise tools and software.
The university will also receive access to Google DeepMind’s co-scientist, which is a multi-agent AI system built with Gemini to help scientists generate novel hypotheses and research proposals. Also, the creation of the Google AI Hub space within Purdue’s Hall of Data Science and AI will serve as a campus space where students and researchers connect to spark hands-on collaboration and breakthrough innovation.
This extends Purdue’s broad strategy of AI, which includes five functional areas including:
- Learning with AI
- Learning about AI
- Researching AI
- Using AI
- Partnering in AI
This is yet another example of collaboration that will lead to greater education in artificial intelligence at the university level.
What’s Happening in New Jersey
Let’s make one more jump east, this time to New Jersey. In February, NJIT (New Jersey Institute of Technology) announced applications are open for an ambitious expansion of their workforce development partnership with Verizon.
Expected to launch in early April, this will provide no-cost, high-impact training in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and IT to eligible New Jersey residents. The objective here is to bridge the digital skills gap.
Central to this new phase is the launch of a Cybersecurity Community of Practice, a collaborative ecosystem where participants, industry experts, and NJIT graduate students engage in peer-to-peer learning and mentorship.
The program offers a comprehensive curriculum, including certification prep, microcredential, and cybersecurity community of practice. Most training is offered online and laptops/internet are available for qualifying participants to assist with access.
These are just three examples of partnerships that aim to equip students, workers, and communities with the credentials and experience needed to work in a high-tech, AI-driven world. I have been sounding the alarm for years now. We need to invest in our workforce. People are—and always will be—the key to good AI strategies.
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