📱 AI and Digital Skills #13
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, AI and digital labor markets witnessed significant developments across investment, workforce restructuring, and upskilling. VOC AI raised $15M to scale globally and enhance AI-powered customer service across the enterprise and e-commerce sectors. In Southeast Asia, Malaysia’s Digital Initiative attracted $3.7B in just four months, reinforcing its emergence as a regional digital hub with a focus on AI and cloud infrastructure. Meanwhile, Intel announced plans to cut over 20% of its workforce as part of a restructuring strategy aimed at restoring its engineering culture and improving financial performance.
Upskilling efforts also gained momentum. Oracle's 'Mostaqbali' program will train 50,000 Saudi citizens in AI to support Vision 2030. UiPath launched free agent AI training for public sector employees worldwide. In Ireland, the $26M DEPTH initiative will deliver digital and cybersecurity skills to over 2,000 people in the North-West region, strengthening the talent pipeline for Europe’s evolving tech economy.
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AI and Digital Labor Market Trends
🦾 VOC AI Secures $15M to Drive Global Expansion and Revolutionize AI Customer Service. VOC AI has raised $15M in funding to accelerate its global growth and enhance AI-driven customer service solutions. The investment supports the company’s mission to revolutionize customer interaction through voice-of-customer insights, strengthening its position in international markets and expanding its reach across e-commerce and enterprise sectors.
🧠 Malaysia Digital Initiative Attracts $3.7B in Investments Within Four Months. Malaysia’s Digital Initiative has attracted $3.7B in investments within four months, highlighting strong global interest in the nation’s digital economy. The influx supports Malaysia’s vision of becoming a leading regional tech hub, with major focus areas including AI, cloud infrastructure, data centers, and digital services expansion.
🌐 Intel Plans to Cut Over 20% of Workforce Amid Restructuring Efforts. Intel is set to announce plans to reduce its workforce by more than 20%, aiming to streamline management and rebuild an engineering-driven culture. This move comes as part of new CEO Lip-Bu Tan's strategy to eliminate bureaucracy and address the company's recent financial challenges.
>60% of IT Operations Investments Are AI-Related
🖥️ Over 60% of IT operations investments in 2025 are AI-related, marking the highest AI focus across business functions, as companies prioritize automation and infrastructure optimization.
📊 Data quality management (46%) and product/service innovation (41%) follow closely, reflecting the strategic role of clean data and AI-driven innovation in maintaining competitive advantage.
📉 Lower AI investments in marketing (20%), HR (24%), and supply chain (23%) highlight untapped areas poised for future transformation as AI adoption broadens across enterprise functions.
Upskilling/Reskilling Intiatives
⚡ Oracle Launches AI Training for 50,000 Saudis to Boost Digital Workforce. Oracle, in partnership with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the National eLearning Center, has introduced the 'Mostaqbali' program to train 50,000 Saudi nationals in AI and digital technologies. This initiative supports Vision 2030 by enhancing local employment and driving digital transformation.
⚙️ UiPath Launches Free AI Automation Training to Empower Public Sector Workforce. UiPath has introduced a free training program, "Upskill to Agentic Automation," aimed at equipping public sector professionals with skills in agentic AI and automation. Accessible via UiPath Community and Academy, the initiative offers hands-on courses, mentorship, and certification opportunities to support career advancement amid evolving government workforce needs.
💻 $26M Digital Skills Programme Launched to Boost North-West Ireland’s Tech Workforce. The North-West Digital Employment Pathways Training Hub (DEPTH), a $26M initiative, aims to upskill over 2,000 participants in digital and cybersecurity fields. Launched at ATU Donegal, the programme offers flexible, certified training—from basic digital literacy to advanced cybersecurity—supported by EU PEACEPLUS and the Department of Further and Higher Education.
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