Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, the East Africa Community and Cognizant are among over 25 organisations from around the globe that will serve as founding contributors to the AI Skills Coalition, an initiative of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to bridge the global AI skills gap and ensure equal worldwide access to artificial intelligence (AI) training.

The AI for Good initiative led by ITU, the UN Agency for Digital Technologies, announced the list of coalition members during the World Economic Forum’s yearly meeting in Davos, where ITU will highlight the role of digital technologies in building a sustainable future.

The AI Skills Coalition will serve as an online platform for AI education and capacity building. The platform will encourage inclusive participation in the AI revolution by offering open and accessible skills training on generative AI, machine learning and applying AI for sustainable development.

The AI Skills Coalition is advancing the implementation of the United Nations Pact for the Future and Global Digital Compact, responding swiftly to urgent global calls for AI capacity building and addressing the growing AI skills gap to ensure inclusive access to opportunities in an AI-powered world.

ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, said: “Let’s make sure everyone has a chance to learn the skills they need to benefit from the AI revolution.

“Our new AI Skills Coalition is aiming to train thousands of people this year, especially those living in regions of the world just getting started on their AI journey, as part of our commitment to ensure that all communities can fully participate in our shared digital future.”

An estimated 94 per cent of global business leaders highlighted artificial intelligence as critical for the success of their organisations in the research cited in the recent AI for Good Impact Report published by ITU and Deloitte. However, insufficient technical skills, the need for extensive upskilling and reskilling, as well as the need to build trust in new technologies are among key barriers to broader AI adoption globally.

As a flagship programme of ITU’s AI for Good Impact Initiative and part of UN system-wide efforts to bridge the global digital divide, the AI Skills Coalition will provide educational materials that can bolster skills for the future and address global inequalities in AI knowledge – known as the “AI skills gap.”

Through its work, the programme addresses the underrepresentation of marginalised groups such as women, youth, and persons with disabilities in the development of AI products and services.

Global Head of Microsoft Philanthropies, Kate Behncke, said: “Generative AI is rapidly transforming the workforce, with LinkedIn data showing a 142 times global increase in professionals adding AI aptitude skills in just one year.

“Recognising this growing demand, we are proud to work with the ITU AI Skills Coalition to provide access to AI skills training, certifications, and capacity-building for policymakers, IT professionals, and organizational leaders.”

As part of the initiative, ITU will work with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to leverage UNDP’s presence in over 170 countries and territories to deliver AI capacity development directly to partner countries.

Administrator of UNDP, Achim Steiner, said: “Capacity development is the number one asks from the developing countries that we work in. As part of this Coalition, we will work with our partners to deliver crucial foundational AI training, so that policymakers and national governments can responsibly harness AI to achieve sustainable development.”

The AI Skills Coalition is ITU’s latest global initiative to consolidate AI education resources with a focus on underserved and marginalised groups.