📱 AI and Digital Skills #11
HolonIQ is tracking reskilling and upskilling efforts to meet the rising demand for AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity skills. As these fields evolve, continuous learning is key to staying competitive and building a future-ready workforce.
This week in AI and Digital, Pixlr initiates collaboration with SIRs to promote AI technology for marketing and design towards enterprises in Southeast Asia. Such initiatives are often promoted with Singapore’s commitment to equip citizens with AI skills. The Indian government collaborated with the WEF to upskill the workforce with continuous learning in AI and robotics. Michigan’s career portal now uses AI to match CVs to jobs and highlight key skills, in partnership with MEDC, SmartJobBoard, and Michigan State.
Nigeria’s NITDA and SecDojo are partnering to launch a Cybersecurity Academy with custom curricula and simulations. Corndel, Imperial, and Microsoft launch Enterprise AI Academy with goals to upskill 10,000 professionals in AI by 2025. Ericsson and Morocco’s MIEPECC signed an MoU to empower entrepreneurs with digital skills.
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AI and Digital Labor Market Trends
🦾 Pixlr partners with SIRS to advance generative AI. The collaboration promotes AI tools for design, marketing, and business, aiming to support SMEs in Southeast Asia. Backed by Nanyang Polytechnic, the initiative aligns with SkillsFuture Singapore’s mission to equip citizens with future-ready AI skills. Pixlr and SIRS recently signed an MoU, with a full agreement expected next month to expand the partnership’s reach.
🤖 India and WEF launch initiative to close skills gap. The India Skills Accelerator aims to upskill and reskill the workforce through inclusive strategies, addressing challenges from tech disruption. Backed by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and WEF, it promotes continuous learning, public-private collaboration, and tailored training in AI, robotics, and sustainable energy. The initiative responds to job displacement concerns, focusing on building a future-ready workforce aligned with industry needs in a fast-changing digital economy.
💻 Michigan uses AI to boost job matching efforts. With over 200,000 job openings in early 2025, Michigan revamped its Career Portal through a partnership between MEDC and SmartJobBoard. The portal now uses AI to match resumes with jobs semantically, improving relevance over traditional keyword searches. Launched in 2023 to attract workers, the enhanced platform supports the state’s broader workforce and economic development goals by connecting talent with suitable opportunities more effectively.
Global AI Funding Hits Record $100.4B in 2024
🏢 In 2024, the majority of the 13 deals exceeding $1B were invested in AI model and infrastructure companies. Notably, OpenAI, xAI, and Anthropic secured 4 of the top 5 funding rounds in 2024, utilizing the capital to fuel the development of advanced AI models.
🖥️ 2024 has seen an upswing of funding after a dip during 2022 and 2023. The boost can be attributed to the high costs of AI development and billion-dollar investments in AI models and infrastructure.
🌐 While the US dominated AI funding with 76% of the total funding in 2024, countries in Europe show strong potential in AI development and newer commitments to achieving a global frontier of the Digital and AI sector.
Upskilling/Reskilling Intiatives
⚡ NITDA and SecDojo partner to build cybersecurity talent. Nigeria’s NITDA signed an MoU with SecDojo to enhance national cyber resilience through advanced training and capacity building. The partnership will establish a Cybersecurity Academy, offer simulation programs, and develop tailored curricula.
⚙️ Corndel, Imperial, and Microsoft launch Enterprise AI Academy. The new initiative aims to train 10,000 professionals in AI by 2025, addressing workplace gaps in AI readiness. With 61% of employees lacking AI training and many using personal tools at work, the program targets skill development to support secure, strategic AI integration and drive organizational innovation.
🌐 Ericsson, MIEPECC partner to upskill Moroccan entrepreneurs. Ericsson and Morocco’s MIEPECC signed an MoU to empower entrepreneurs with digital skills. The collaboration will provide access to Ericsson’s educational initiatives, fostering essential skills for Morocco’s growing digital economy. The initiative aims to drive accessible digital innovation in the Kingdom, aligning with MIEPECC's vision.
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