📱 AI and Digital Skills #12
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, the University of Pittsburgh plans to invest $10M over the next five years in collaboration with Leidos, a digital innovation company, to establish research centers and workforce development initiatives. NTT DATA and Neysa Networks commit to $1M for AI Data Centers in Hyderabad, boosting local workforce growth and labor skills in India. The EU finally announced its Continent Action plan after a successful InvestAI initiative, bringing in over $226B for AI factories and labor upskilling programs.
Upskilling initiatives kicked off with Microsoft’s collaboration with the Thai government, aiming to train over 1 million civil servants, students, and workers nationwide by the end of 2025. Caterpillar announces $100M investment over 5 years directly into upskilling workforce in robotics, automation, and AI. Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) initiates collaboration with China’s Zhejiang University to transform their governance framework, prioritizing key areas in the economy, such as talent development and AI security.
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AI and Digital Labor Market Trends
🦾 Virginia Company & Pitt Invest $10M in AI Healthcare Tools. Leidos and the University of Pittsburgh are investing $10 million over five years to develop AI technologies that improve disease detection and diagnostic speed. The partnership will establish a Digital Pathology Research Center, enhance medical imaging, and support workforce development, aiming to revolutionize healthcare delivery through precision diagnostics and innovation.
🧠 Japanese Firms Invest $1M in Hyderabad AI Cluster. NTT DATA and Neysa Networks will invest $1M in Hyderabad to develop a 400 MW AI Data Center Cluster hosting India’s largest AI supercomputing infrastructure with 25,000 GPUs. The project aims to power next-gen AI services, blending cutting-edge tech, renewable energy, and strong ESG standards, further solidifying Hyderabad's role as a major data center hub in India. This investment will drive up the demand for labor in the AI sector even further in India.
🌐 EU’s AI Continent Action Plan: A Bold Leap for Digital Sovereignty. The European Commission’s AI Continent Action Plan is set to reshape Europe’s digital future with $226B in investments, AI Factories, and data sovereignty initiatives. The InvestAI initiative, launched earlier this year, has mobilised the EU to transform the continent with large-scale AI computing infrastructure, strengthening AI skills and talent, and promoting AI in strategic sectors.
Over 3x Increase in New AI Jobs Between 2018 and 2024
🏢 New AI jobs in the US peaked at over 26,000 in 2021 but dropped to 14,000 by 2024, mirroring a 65% fall in corporate AI investments over the same period.
🖥️ US AI jobs are rising again, now triple 2018 levels, driven by a surge in LLM model releases over the past two years.
🌐 Rising US–China competition for AI talent has driven up wages, reflected in a 38% increase in AI job postings since 2020.
Upskilling/Reskilling Intiatives
⚡ Thailand and Microsoft are launching the THAI Academy to train over 1 million Thais in AI by the end of 2025. Backed by 35+ public and private organizations, the initiative targets civil servants, students, SMEs, and workers nationwide. Through teacher training, school curriculum updates, and SME empowerment, Thailand aims to build a strong AI-skilled workforce and boost digital competitiveness across sectors.
⚙️ Caterpillar will invest $100M over five years to upskill workers in AI, robotics, and automation as part of its centennial celebration. The move addresses a looming skills shift, with 40% of job skills expected to change by 2030, per WEF. Training programs will target both current employees and future talent through STEM outreach and technician training, ensuring the company stays competitive in a tech-driven market.
💻 MDEC & Zhejiang University Join Forces to Boost AI and Digital Innovation. Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has partnered with China’s Zhejiang University to drive AI innovation, smart cities, and digital governance via the successful ‘Zhejiang Model.’ The collaboration aligns with Malaysia’s MADANI vision, focusing on talent development, AI security, and digital competitiveness.
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