6 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.

The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has captured minds and imaginations at an astonishingly fast page . 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 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.
• 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, 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.

“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 center of everything they do.

Nearly all global workers say businesses should prioritize AI skills in their employee development strategy. You don’t have to spend years earning a degree in AI. Salesforce provides learning modules for critical skills, which lead to careers for job seekers, and skilled workforces for employers.

Here are six essential AI modules, bite-size learning units that guide you through specific topics as below:

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.

Earn the Einstein GPT 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.

Earn the Data Cloud badge.

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.

Earn the AI for Customer Service badge.

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.

Earn the Responsible Creation of AI badge.

Need more information about AI for your company, click here.