UK Government Offers Free AI Training for Adults for Work

The UK government has launched a comprehensive training initiative to support the workforce in adapting to the business world transformed by artificial intelligence (AI). The online courses, open to all adults in the country, aim to provide practical skills such as how to interact with chatbots or how to leverage these tools in administrative tasks.

Ambitious Goal and Course Content

While a portion of the lessons offered under the program will be made available completely free of charge, another portion will be subsidized. The duration of the lessons varies from 20 minutes to several hours. Technology Minister Liz Kendall stated that the goal of this initiative is to give people confidence in using AI in the workplace. Kendall said, "Change is inevitable, but the outcomes of change are not. We will protect people from the risks of AI while ensuring everyone shares in its benefits."

Industry Support and Expert Opinions

The training program, which technology giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have contributed to designing, contains 14 different courses, and those who complete them earn a virtual badge. Organizations such as the NHS, the British Chambers of Commerce, and the Local Government Association have pledged to encourage their employees and members to enroll in the program.

However, some think tanks like the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) warn that adapting the workforce to AI requires more than just learning to use chatbots. Roa Powell, a senior researcher at IPPR, said, "Skills for the AI age cannot be reduced to short technical courses alone. Workers also need support to develop reasoning, critical thinking, physical skills, leadership, and the confidence to use these tools safely."

Reactions from the Business World and Long-Term Effects

Sharron Gunn, President of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, welcomed the move but emphasized that the burden of adaptation should not be left solely to employees. Gunn stated, "Alongside specialist AI professionals with computer science degrees, teams in UK businesses of every size need to have a scaled level of AI skill. Furthermore, there needs to be a much greater increase in technology understanding at the board level."

The government's initiative is seen as a significant step towards addressing the skill needs brought by the global AI boom. Similarly, it is known that companies like Amazon are restructuring their workforce due to AI competition, while firms like Microsoft and Meta are reviewing the returns on their AI investments. In the finance sector, the growth potential with AI of companies like Pagaya Technologies is being explored, while on the hardware side, AMD's 2026 targets are also being shaped by the AI wind.