Tech giant IBM will train 2 million individuals globally in artificial intelligence (AI), following a recent World Economic Forum report claiming that AI will replace 85 million jobs worldwide by 2025.
In an interview with the Manila Times, IBM Philippines President and Country General Manager Aileen Judan-Jiao said they are working on upskilling “under-represented communities” about AI with the help of the local government and universities.
“We need to show that it can be done and the platform should be inclusive and accessible and very bite-sized,” said Judan-Jiao said. “All of us need to think of the cases in every environment, whether it is in the academe, but we need to embed early.”
IBM’s training will be facilitated through its SkillBuild platform, a free online platform that offers over 1,000 courses in 20 languages. SkillBuild has courses on AI, cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, and other technical disciplines.
In the Philippines, the program has already started by training the teachers of City College of San Fernando. It will expand as IBM explores partnerships with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Upskilling the homegrown talents in the Philippines
Since the major shift toward digitalization headed by President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr’s administration, the Philippines has been looking for ways to learn more about breakthrough technologies and improve Filipino lives.
In early 2023, nChain—a global blockchain solutions firm— announced that it’s working on different initiatives to support the Provincial Government of Bataan in its digitalization efforts. The firm also signed a deal with the Ateneo Manila University to promote blockchain education within the university and lead a research group.
In May, nChain conducted a blockchain workshop with Bataan delegates in Zug, Switzerland, to help the local government officials learn how blockchain, particularly the BSV blockchain, can change the province and, eventually, the whole Philippines.
In terms of upskilling the nation, nChain and Block Dojo Philippines are organizing a 12-week incubator program. The goal of this program is to provide startups, enterprises, and local talents with the necessary training, education, upskilling, and cross-skilling on cutting-edge technologies such as blockchain and AI. This initiative aims to empower the next generation of tech professionals and leaders in the Philippines by equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in this digital age.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article stated that IBM will train 2 million Filipinos in AI. This is now corrected to reflect that IBM is committed to train 2M in AI globally.
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Watch: Bataan Government & nChain are aiming to bring the Philippines to its Golden Digital Age
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