Amazon, Google, Microsoft and IBM are among the Big Tech firms that are in talks to support the UK’s plan to AI upskill more than seven million workers.
First announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer at earlier this month at London Tech Week, the British government has laid out ambitious plans to give AI skills to more than a fifth of the total UK workforce, addressing the major concern that a gap in skills will prevent growth in the sector and wider digital economy.
In an effort to meet the tall order, Tech Secretary Peter Kyle met with representatives from a handful of tech giants to discuss how industry partnerships can support the initiative.
Companies that agree to the partnership will offer varying commitments to provide AI training to their own UK-based staff. Each firms participation in the plan will be different depending on circumstance.
Microsoft has agreed to upskill one million workers in AI by the end of the year, while IBM plans to roll out targeted training modules for workers via its IBM SkillsBuild training programmes.
Major British tech employers have also participated in the talks, including Sage and BT.
“If we want to realise AI’s incredible potential, we need to make sure people of all ages and from all parts of the UK have the skills they need for jobs both in and with the technology – especially given we expect around 10 million workers to be using AI in their day-to-day role by 2035,” Peter Kyle said.
“Within days of announcing that we are partnering with some of the world’s biggest tech leaders to help us do exactly that, we are getting them around the table – representing a vote of confidence not only in Britain’s workers, but in the potential we offer as a global AI powerhouse.”
NVIDIA has separately agreed to support the UK’s AI ambitions through its own partnership.
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