Silicon Valley's 'Section School' has teamed up with BSI Digital Learning to launch an AI Academy in Australia.

The academy will offer the AI Crash Course and other upskilling courses led by AI experts from Silicon Valley. The courses are designed to help Australian businesses bridge the skills gap in AI technology.

Simon Dewar, digital learning technologist and Group CEO of BSI Learning, will head the new BSI Digital Academy. The academy will focus on flexible, virtual delivery and practical learning for busy professionals. "Unlike traditional academic courses, Section School focuses on practical, blended and digital approaches, that enable busy professionals to access both live, and on-demand forms of learning," Dewar said.

A recent McKinsey report projects global AI investment to exceed $500 billion annually by 2025. As AI technology continues to evolve, businesses are increasingly seeking ways to capitalise on its potential. "AI experimentation and pilot projects are currently underway in most sectors, as companies search for ways to learn about, and then capitalise on AI," Dewar said.

The AI Academy includes an evolving platform of AI-based courses accessible live or on-demand. Facilitators from leading Silicon Valley organisations such as Google, Meta, Apple, and Amazon will lead the courses. The BSI Digital AI Crash Course and Academy launched in Australia today, with special offers and discounts available for the next 30 days.

The importance of upskilling in AI is echoed by industry experts. Tony Surtees, a Silicon Valley veteran, compared the current AI revolution to the rise of computers in the 80s and 90s. "If you didn't want to learn computers in the 80s or 90s, it meant eventually you weren't as skilled as the person next to you who learned Microsoft Office," Surtees said.

Damian Kassabgi, another industry expert, emphasised the need for re-skilling and training in the face of technological advancements. "We don’t believe AI is any different to other technologies that have come before it in relation to reskilling people and jobs changing, while at the same time the country is still in full employment. There’s going to need to be re-skilling and training."

Greg Shove, a prominent figure in the AI industry, said: "AI will not take your job – but someone that understands how to use AI better than you just might," Shove cautioned.

Dewar believes the academy will provide the necessary tools to build AI literacy and capability. "The academy exposes you to the latest in AI thinking, training, and support tools to build your AI literacy, capability, and more targeted skills for specialist roles and functions."