07/31/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 07/31/2024 06:17
AI represents a never-before-seen opportunity for technology to benefit humankind in every way. It's changing everything - especially the way we work. Preparing the global workforce for the advancements of AI technology is not just a business objective at Cisco. It's arguably one of the most impactful ways to power an inclusive future for all. It's why our Cisco Networking Academy work is so crucial - 20.5 million students trained worldwide and counting! It's also why I'm so proud of our leadership role with the AI-Enabled Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Workforce Consortium (the Consortium). Every customer and world leader I meet is seeking to understand, "How can we make AI a force for good for our people, and not a threat?" Today, the Consortium released its inaugural report to start addressing this crucial question.
Launched in April 2024, the formation of the Consortium was a bold and determined move to shape and secure the future of our industry and people. The Consortium is a voluntary, coordinated effort led by Cisco in collaboration with industry leaders Accenture, Eightfold, Google, IBM, Indeed, Intel, Microsoft and SAP. We're guided by advisors from the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, CHAIN5, Communications Workers of America, DIGITALEUROPE, the European Vocational Training Association, Khan Academy, and SMEUnited and our shared goal is to proactively plan for the transformational impact of AI on ICT jobs, employees and employers.
The Consortium's report, "The Transformational Opportunity of AI on ICT Jobs," is a first-of-its-kind look at how AI intersects with our global ICT workforce, focused on practical suggestions for targeted training programs and skills for 47 different ICT roles. Here are some of the top takeaways from the report:
The promise of AI is extraordinary, and the Consortium is committed to helping workers across ICT roles benefit from its potential. This work begins with identifying and enabling the new skills and training needed for AI preparedness.
By investing in a long-term roadmap for an inclusive and skilled workforce, we can help all populations participate and thrive in the era of AI. Through their individual organizations' commitments, the combined Consortium will train and upskill 95 million people over the next 10 years. With AI-driven educational tools, we can create learning experiences that cater to individual needs and learning styles. We can also help democratize learning - making reskilling and upskilling more efficient, personalized, and productive.
Today's report is the first milestone in our work to empower professionals to flourish in an AI-driven landscape. It's a practical guide for giving global populations access to the skills and training they need to secure family- and community-sustaining jobs. But it's also filled with vision and inspirational research about the opportunity to unlock human potential with AI adoption, through:
Preparing the global workforce for the AI-driven future is essential for fostering economic growth, social equity, and technological innovation. The risks of an under skilled and unprepared workforce range from economic wage gaps to trade imbalances, technological stagnation, social and ethical issues, and national security threats. Even with that as a backdrop, Cisco's AI Readiness Index shows that only 14% of organizations are fully prepared to leverage AI-powered technologies, with more than half admitting serious concerns if they fail to act soon.
The Consortium's report about the impact of AI on ICT jobs is a unique and differentiated piece of work that gives companies and workers a useful guide to the exact skills needed to not just circumvent risks, but to flourish. The AI training recommendations couldn't be clearer, timelier or more urgent.
Today's report is more than an analysis, it's also an "ask." As AI transforms job functions, there is a pressing need for a coordinated effort by governments, educational institutions, and industries to invest in AI education, training, and lifelong learning programs. The AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium calls for organizations to proactively lean into this transition and support those at risk of being left behind. The "Transformational Opportunity of AI on ICT Jobs" report is now available to all as a roadmap for our collective journey to an inclusive - and elevated - future for all.