AI skills are a priority for employers, but 79% struggle to find qualified talent, says top AWS exec

Retail giant Amazon’s cloud computing arm, Amazon Web Services (AWS), has partnered with the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) to launch an initiative aligned with DSCI’s National Centre of Excellence for Cybersecurity Technology Development (N-CoE), a joint effort with MeitY. The initiative aims to empower start-ups and independent software vendors (ISVs) to leverage generative AI for innovation in cybersecurity and the development of commercially deployable solutions.  Generative AI is a relatively new technology, and a major challenge is the lack of specialised talent capable of harnessing it for disruptive applications, advancing healthcare missions, and delivering better patient outcomes. Helping start-ups, ISVs, professionals, and students acquire skills in generative AI within a cybersecurity context is critical.

A study titled “Accelerating AI Skills: Preparing the Asia-Pacific Workforce for Jobs of the Future,” conducted by Access Partnership and commissioned by AWS, found that over 90% of Indian employers prioritise hiring AI-skilled talent, yet 79% struggle to find the required expertise. Moreover, the report “Building Digital Skills for the Changing Workforce,” prepared by AlphaBeta and commissioned by AWS, highlights that cybersecurity skills will be among the top five most in-demand digital skills by 2025.

To address this gap, AWS has launched “AI Ready,” a commitment to provide free AI skills training to 2 million people globally by 2025. This initiative includes eight new and free AI and generative AI courses, the AWS Generative AI Scholarship, offering over 50,000 high school and university students access to a new generative AI course on Udacity and a collaboration with Code.org to help students learn about generative AI. Through these programmes, AWS aims to remove barriers to accessing critical skills, ensuring the workforce is equipped to handle AI-powered cybersecurity tools effectively.