AI Reeducation Boot Camp: Transform Your Career from Microsoft to MIT MBA

Last Updated on December 18, 2023 by Robert C. Hoopes

UK-based consultant Richard Banks attributes his recent promotion to chief strategy officer at Virtus Health, a medtech company in Sydney, to his completion of MIT’s AI course. Banks, now the owner of his own consulting firm, is sharing his expertise on AI strategies and technologies with others.

To address the information gap in the field of AI, renowned universities such as MIT and Stanford have begun offering online executive education courses on the subject. These courses, taught by AI experts, have attracted nearly 25,000 business professionals looking to enhance their understanding of AI.

Recognizing the demand for AI talent, specialized instructors and recruiters are branching out from major tech companies. Marily Nika, a former AI product manager, has started an AI boot camp that provides online videos, case studies, projects, and live lectures. The boot camp has successfully taught 1,500 students and charges anywhere from $500 to $2,000 for its courses.

Companies like Salesforce are taking a proactive approach to retraining their employees, offering training programs such as Trailhead. Since 2014, Trailhead has trained over 6 million individuals to become AI experts. Salesforce has also integrated an AI component into its learning platform and has awarded more than 700,000 badges for AI-specific skills.

As the demand for AI skills continues to rise, professionals like Lily Cheng, a product design director at Big Health, are going back to school to learn generative AI skills. Cheng has enrolled in courses offered by Google, Coursera, Stanford, and the online platform Maven Learning.

To oversee the implementation and ensure ethical use of AI technologies, companies are creating new roles such as chief AI officers and AI ethicists. Corporate boards are also prioritizing the inclusion of AI experts on their advisory boards.

A recent AI readiness survey conducted by Cisco Systems revealed that while almost all business leaders feel the pressure to deploy AI technologies, over two-thirds feel unprepared. To bridge this skills gap, universities and online education companies are playing a crucial role in providing relevant training.

Recognizing the need for inclusivity, Microsoft and LinkedIn have launched a generative AI skills initiative. This initiative offers free online coursework and a professional certificate to bridge the digital divide in the workforce and provide AI training to underserved communities.

Recruitment and training companies, such as AI Talent First, are actively working to place individuals in AI roles while emphasizing diversity and inclusion. These firms are assisting organizations in building top GenAI teams and are providing professionals with the necessary training to stay ahead of technological advancements.