In the context of rapid development in the global tech industry, Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW) has announced the launch of the 'One Million Ideas, One Platform' initiative, aiming to provide free Snowflake AI Data Cloud training and certification to over 100,000 individuals by 2027, with plans to enhance the data and AI skills of one million people by 2029. This initiative will receive a $20 million investment from Snowflake, aiming to provide comprehensive support for students and professionals in high-growth and emerging markets.

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) skills have become a top priority for companies in hiring. However, a recent report from VG Sundar Ram, Head of Business Development for AWS in India and South Asia, indicates that as many as 79% of companies encounter difficulties in finding candidates with relevant AI skills. This phenomenon reflects the challenges businesses face in advancing digital transformation and enhancing technological competitiveness. Image source note: The image is AI-generated and licensed from the service provider Midjourney.

The 2024 annual work trends report released by Microsoft and LinkedIn shows that employers' preferences are shifting towards candidates with AI skills rather than those with extensive industry experience. 71% of corporate executives are inclined to hire job seekers with AI capabilities, but only 25% of companies plan to offer AI training, leading to 75% of knowledge workers learning AI tools on their own. With work pressure intensifying, 46% of employees consider resigning, and 45% worry that AI will replace their jobs. AI is reshaping the workplace, requiring professionals to actively learn and adapt.

California and Nvidia have jointly launched a large-scale artificial intelligence training program aimed at training 100,000 residents in AI technology, focusing on education, innovation, and job creation. The program offers AI courses, certifications, software, and boot camps through community colleges, targeting students, educators, and professionals to enhance their technical skills in tackling future challenges like traffic congestion and language barriers. Nvidia provides resources, while the California government supports start-up AI companies, establishes AI innovation districts and work centers, and organizes events to showcase AI applications.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that the company will provide AI skills training for 2 million people. Nadella emphasized the importance of equipping the workforce with necessary skills in the new era and stated that AI tasks would create job opportunities for rural India. The CEO praised the efforts of India's data cooperatives in the field of artificial intelligence. Nadella noted that India has the second-largest community of AI engineers in the world and will continue to support the development of AI.

Amazon has announced the 'AI Ready' program, aimed at equipping 2 million people globally with the skills needed for careers in Generative AI by 2025. The program includes free online courses, scholarships, and a collaboration with Code.org to promote Generative AI skills. An investment of $12 million will provide 50,000 Udacity scholarships, focusing particularly on students from underrepresented and underserved communities in high schools and universities.

A survey shows that 44% of companies believe that AI may replace some employees next year. Customer support has become a popular application area for AI technology. Employees need to enhance their AI skills to remain competitive.

Singaporean employees are the fastest adopters of AI skills in the world. Singapore has the highest 'adoption rate', with the proportion of members adding AI skills to their profiles increasing 20 times since January 2016. With the automation of artificial intelligence, soft skills such as adaptability, emotional intelligence, and analytical judgment are becoming increasingly important.