7 Easy Ways You Can Skill Up for AI
The skills that businesses need to put AI to work are lagging. But you can get the skills you need. Here’s how.
Lisa Lee
The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has captured minds and imaginations at an astonishingly fast pace. But the skills that businesses will need to put this technology to work are lagging. Here, we’ll share some of our best AI learning content on Trailhead, Salesforce’s free online learning platform, to help you get the skills you need.
The case for change
- A recent survey found 67% of global business leaders are considering using generative AI, but roughly the same number of IT leaders say their employees don’t have the skills to use it.
- The number of job postings on LinkedIn mentioning GPT (the generative pre-trained transformers behind the AI) increased 51% in 2022, according to the company.
- The AI skills gap compounds a broader digital skills crisis. In a global survey of more than 23,000 workers, nearly three-quarters of respondents said they lack the necessary resources to learn the digital skills they need to succeed in the current and future workforce.
What you can do now
Skill up with Trailhead content on AI. I run content for Trailhead, which breaks down barriers to learning and provides anyone with access to learn in-demand skills. AI learning content on Trailhead includes: a primer on Einstein GPT, the first generative AI for CRM; the role of AI in business; the role and importance of unified data as the foundation for AI, smart CRM assistants, and how AI can improve customer service.
Upskilling helps you get more out of your teams
Strong employee upskilling and professional development programs are the foundations for increased satisfaction, retention and competitiveness.
“The gap between our capabilities and what the technology enables and demands has widened,” Erik Brynjolfsson, director of the Digital Economy Lab at Stanford said recently.
Indeed, technology trends this new make it hard to assess how much investment you’ll need to make in learning. But we are seeing seismic opportunities where AI can take us into the next decades. The time to start investing in learning is now.
What is upskilling?
Upskilling is learning new skills for a different or expanded job function. For example, with training, a web designer could grow into a career in application development or UX design. Upskilling can occur either on the job, as an employer-supported initiative, or on your own.
Learning new skills can also be the key to breaking into a new industry or role. Look at it as an investment in your professional success.
Learn AI, or get left behind
Generative AI was recently described by one prominent columnist as magic, a Promethean moment akin to the advent of the printing press, industrial revolution, nuclear power, and the internet. It’s no wonder companies are scrambling to hire skilled people to integrate it into their work.
More broadly, upskilling is key to a more engaged workforce, which can boost productivity. According to a 2020 study, 91% of companies and 81% of employees say upskilling or reskilling has boosted productivity. The more digital skills your teams can gain, the easier it will be to keep your customers at the centre of everything they do.
Nearly all global workers say businesses should prioritise AI skills in their employee development strategy. You don’t have to spend years earning a degree in AI. Trailhead provides learning modules for critical skills, which lead to careers for job seekers, and skilled workforces for employers.
Here are seven essential AI modules, bite-size learning units (we call them badges, which you earn after successfully completing the module) that guide you through specific topics, on Trailhead:
Einstein GPT: Quick Look
Discover how generative AI and Einstein GPT are transforming the future of work.
This learning module shows you how GPT fits into the larger concept of generative AI. It is also a primer on Einstein GPT, the first generative AI for CRM.
Get Started with Artificial Intelligence
Learn how AI works and how to use it effectively and responsibly. This learning course covers the basics of AI and the tech behind its amazing capabilities. A second chapter covers the capabilities of generative AI, and gives you a foundation of knowledge to build upon. You can also learn about natural language processing, data analysis, and more.
Earn the Get Started With AI badge.
Artificial Intelligence for Business
Learn how to use artificial intelligence to meet your business needs.
You’ll gain an understanding of the main ingredients of AI, the role of workflow and rules in using AI predictions, and be able to identify the technologies that comprise AI solutions.
Earn the AI for Business badge.
Salesforce Data Cloud: Quick Look
Discover Data Cloud, the real-time platform for customer magic.
Data is the foundation of AI. This learning module shows how Salesforce Data Cloud unifies all customer data, across any channel and system and from any source, into a single record.
Salesforce Einstein Basics
Discover insights and predict outcomes with this powerful set of AI-enhanced features.
This module shows how AI-driven smart assistants are infused into all Salesforce business apps, and automates IT, commerce, sales, service, and marketing tasks.
Earn the Einstein Basics badge.
Artificial Intelligence for Customer Service
See how artificial intelligence is changing customer service, from chatbots to analytics.
Customer service not up to snuff? Here you’ll learn about all the ways AI can help you elevate customer experiences.
Responsible Creation of Artificial Intelligence
Remove bias from your data and algorithms to create ethical AI systems at your company.
Here you’ll learn how to define bias and fairness, build a diverse AI team to avoid bias, translate company values into processes, and describe the importance of understanding your customers for ethically-aligned AI design.
