Already deeply invested in leveraging AI for its own operations, Amazon is looking to train millions of people in AI skills over the next several years… and for free.

On Nov. 20, the eCommerce giant announced its “AI Ready” commitment, which centers on providing free AI skills training to 2 million people by 2025.

Powering AI Ready is a trio of initiatives:

• Eight new and free AI and generative AI courses
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) Generative AI Scholarship, providing more than 50,000 high school and university students globally with access to a new generative AI course on Udacity
• New collaboration with Code.org designed to help students learn about generative AI

MDM Podcast: Amazon Business is Just Getting Started (Nov. 8)

In a news release, Amazon shared details from a new study by AWS and research firm Access Partnership that found the following key statistics:

• Hiring AI-skilled talent is a priority for 73% of employers — but among these, three out of four say they are unable to meet their AI talent needs
• Employers expect their workers to earn up to 47% more in salaries if they upskill in AI
• AI will become more integral to the way business is done, with 93% of businesses expecting they will be using AI solutions across their organizations in the next five years

“Amazon is launching AI Ready to help those with a desire to learn about AI and benefit from the tremendous opportunity ahead,” the release said. “The initiatives are designed to open opportunities to those in the workforce today as well as the future generation.”

Find details about three initiatives in Amazon’s news release.

AI Ready follows recent news out of Amazon this year regarding how the company is using the technology to improve its own offerings. In mid-August, MDM reported on how the company is testing a generative AI tool for sellers that writes product descriptions, and Amazon’s new AI feature that summarizes product reviews for customers. In late September, the company shared that it is investing up to $4 billion in AI startup Anthropic.