UK to Train 7.5 Million Workers and 1 Million Students in Artificial Intelligence by 2030
LONDON – Secondary school pupils across the UK will soon receive artificial intelligence (AI) training as part of a sweeping government initiative designed to equip the next generation with skills for the digital age, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced. The “TechFirst” program, backed by £187 million, will provide AI learning resources to one million students, aiming to prepare them for future careers in technology.
The flagship part of the initiative, “TechYouth,” will invest £24 million to ensure AI training is available in every secondary school over the next three years. Three other components will support undergraduate students through “TechGrad” (£96.8 million), fund PhD researchers via “TechExpert” (£48.4 million), and back small businesses with “TechLocal” (£18 million).
Alongside the education push, the UK government is partnering with major tech companies including Google, Microsoft, IBM, Nvidia, BT, and Amazon to train 7.5 million workers in AI skills by 2030. These companies will offer high-quality, free training materials to help employees understand and utilize tools like chatbots and large language models.
Research from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) indicates AI will impact the roles of 10 million UK workers by 2035. “We are putting the power of AI into the hands of the next generation – so they can shape the future, not be shaped by it,” Starmer said. He also hosted tech leaders at Chequers and plans to welcome industry figures, including 16-year-old AI entrepreneur Toby Brown, to Downing Street.
