Engineering News reports that information technology multinational Microsoft, at its 'AI: A New Era' event on 30 October, announced plans to certify 30-million people in Africa in artificial intelligence- (AI-) related skills by 2025, and it has partnered with the Presidential Youth Employment Service (YES) to upskill 300,000 South African youths.
"With an ecosystem and several research institutions and universities exploring AI applications in healthcare, finance and agriculture, South Africa is well positioned to harness the power of AI to drive economic growth and improve the lives of its citizens," Microsoft South Africa CEO Kalane Rampai said. The three pillars that underpin AI for Microsoft are democratising AI, responsible AI and upskilling, hence the partnership with YES. "The scale of the AI Youth Training Platform intervention, namely aiming to train 300,000 young people [in South Africa], underlines how we are democratising AI and aiming to leave behind as few people as possible. The courses will be aimed at novices and experts to expose them to AI and for them to explore a potential career in AI, as well as to see the potential in AI to solve some of our pressing social problems," Rampai explained. Young people who exit the formal training programme at YES will have an awareness of how AI can improve how they work and how this could become a career or profession moving forward. Those who complete the AI Expert Module and meet key criteria will be eligible for certification.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
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