O'Reilly introduces AI Academy to equip workforce with GenAI Skills

O’Reilly, a technology and business learning resource provider, has introduced its AI Academy, a platform designed to provide comprehensive GenAI training for workforces. 

The new offering includes access to various learning resources, such as books, live events, and on-demand courses, to help organisations upskill employees and improve their use of GenAI tools.

The AI Academy will be available to current subscribers of the O’Reilly online learning platform and as a standalone subscription for companies aiming to increase their employees' proficiency in GenAI technology.

Addressing the skills gap in GenAI

Generative AI has gained significant attention across industries, but many workforces are still unprepared to integrate this technology into their operations effectively. 

A recent BCG survey shows that 85% of C-suite executives plan to increase AI and GenAI spending in 2024, yet only 10% of employees have been trained on these tools. Nearly 60% of executives also expressed limited confidence in their leadership teams’ ability to navigate GenAI.

In response to this gap, O'Reilly created the AI Academy to provide role-specific training across entire organisations. The platform includes learning tracks tailored to various positions, allowing employees to build foundational skills in generative AI. Tracks such as GenAI Essentials for Everyone cover basic skills like prompting and productivity improvement, while other tracks focus on areas like leadership and project management.

Industry-specific learning 

The O’Reilly AI Academy includes over 300 pieces of content designed for specific roles and industries, such as security, data, finance, marketing, and project management. These resources include books, audiobooks, live events, and video content, ensuring learners can access the information they need in various formats.

Laura Baldwin, President of O’Reilly, commented on the importance of widespread GenAI proficiency across different departments:

“New tools leveraging GenAI are coming into the market every day to support teams from marketing and sales to finance and HR, all focused on helping to improve productivity. But to reap the full benefits of GenAI, everyone in your organisation needs to be proficient with the technology, including less-technical teams.”

Employees completing the AI Academy learning tracks will earn badges and certificates highlighting their GenAI skills. These credentials can be shared on platforms like LinkedIn or included in email signatures to demonstrate their new qualifications.

Baldwin emphasised the broader goal of the programme:

“With the launch of the O’Reilly AI Academy, we aim to enhance every worker’s understanding of how to leverage GenAI, empowering them to improve their own problem-solving, decision-making, and adaptability to drive business outcomes in an increasingly AI-driven world.”