By James Maroney
State Sen., D-14
James Maroney
It seems hardly a day goes by without mention of some new artificial intelligence tool being created or contributing to a potential breakthrough or innovation. It also seems like barely a day goes by without hearing of some potential new risk created by AI, such as the significant loss of jobs or even the potential extinction of the human race.
While there is so much uncertainty, one thing is certain: artificial intelligence is here to stay.
According to the 2024 Work Trend Index from Microsoft and LinkedIn, 66 percent of business leaders said they would not hire someone without AI skills, and 71 percent said they would rather hire a less experienced candidate with AI skills than a more experienced candidate without them. Generative AI skills are increasingly important to finding employment. In fact, in some circles you will hear them say that it isn’t artificial intelligence that will take your job, it is someone who knows how to use artificial intelligence that will take your job.
While no one knows what exactly the future holds, we want to make sure that all of our residents are ready. That is why we launched the Connecticut Online AI Academy, a free partnership between the state, Charter Oak State College and Google that gives every resident, regardless of income or background, the chance to build the skills employers are now demanding.
The academy offers two free courses. Google AI Essentials is an introductory course for beginners; no technical background required. It teaches the fundamentals of generative AI and how to apply it to everyday work. There is also a more advanced AI fluency course. Both are fully online, both can be completed in five to six weeks, and both award a Google certificate that graduates can put directly on their resume or LinkedIn profile.
The CT AI Academy was one of the key pieces of Senate Bill 5 that I championed and helped pass. These two courses are only the beginning, as by the end of the year the CT Teen AI Academy and AI for Small Business courses will launch.
All of the past technological revolutions have created more jobs than they destroyed, but it isn’t always a one to one skills correlation between the new jobs that are created and those that are lost. It is critical for us as a state to make sure that all of our residents are prepared.
If you want to learn more about the free programs that are being offered, more information can be found online at charteroak.edu/ai-academy. Our goal is to make sure no resident is left behind when it comes to AI and to ensure that Connecticut has the most AI-literate workforce in the country.