Intel is announcing a major expansion of its Intel® AI for Workforce Program to help educate the next generation of U.S. technologists, engineers and inventors — and to help them land careers in their chosen fields, ranging from healthcare to nursing to business. To support the expansion of the program across the U.S., Intel is collaborating with Dell Technologies to provide technical and infrastructure expertise. Students who complete the program, which is being added at 18 schools across 11 U.S. states, will receive a certificate or an associate degree in artificial intelligence (AI).
The Intel AI for Workforce Program, with technology support from Dell Technologies, helps students gain critically-needed job skills in the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence — with courses on data collection, computer vision, AI model training, coding, the societal impacts and ethics of AI technology, and more.
Started in 2020 as a collaboration between Intel and a community college in Maricopa County, Arizona, the program is adding 18 institutions that serve a total of 800,000 students. Plans to expand to 50 more community and vocational colleges in 2022 are underway.
Intel’s leaders believe AI technology should be shaped by people offering diverse voices and experiences. Community colleges offer the chance to democratize AI technology. In the U.S. higher education system, these schools attract students with the richest variety of backgrounds and expertise.
Dell Technologies is providing technical expertise to the schools on how best to configure AI labs for teaching in-person, hybrid and online students.
“Higher education institutions are a catalyst for change by providing expertise and training in emerging fields,” said Jillian Mansolf, senior vice president and general manager, U.S. Corporate and Public Sector, Dell Technologies. “By collaborating with Intel, Dell is able to deliver AI learning experiences to these students, helping to prepare the future workforce for impact and success.”
The artificial intelligence field is booming. Recent studies show the demand for AI skills among employers is likely to grow significantly. Technology that supports AI is growing similarly fast, with rapidly emerging new tools and applications that require workers to learn new technical skills. The impact of AI – and its future applications – spans high tech, healthcare, automotive, industrial, manufacturing, aerospace and other fields.
“The need for AI technology in the workforce, across several industries, is critical for U.S. economic growth,” Gelsinger said.
On a national basis, data from the American Association of Community Colleges shows that 57% of community college students are women, 27% identify as Hispanic, 13% as Black and 6% as Asian/Pacific Islander. Fully 29% of these students report that they’re the first in their families to attend college.
“It’s clear there is tremendous need for more AI skills in the future workforce, and community colleges attract students with a variety of backgrounds — making them perfect for helping to better diversify AI,” said Gregory Bryant, executive vice president and general manager of the Client Computing Group at Intel. “We are partnering with community colleges to expand access to technology skills that, in turn, will lead to top jobs. This includes everything from AI curriculum and teacher training to seeding internships and more. We’re committed as a company to accelerating this important effort to help drive a thriving economy and tech-savvy workforce.”
Gelsinger said: “I can’t wait to see the amazing things these students will do with AI technology to improve the life of every person on the planet. We hope other companies will join us in this important mission.”
Source: Businesswire
