The funding announcement comes as the United States faces a significant manufacturing skills gap. According to the MI, some 1.9 million manufacturing roles could go unfilled by 2033 if the workforce isn’t equipped with necessary technical skills.
There is a particular need for AI skills, Manufacturing Institute President Carolyn Lee said in an email. Research by the Manufacturing Leadership Council found that nearly 70% of manufacturers see AI as essential to grow their business, but 82% say they lack the talent to use it effectively, she said.
To help close that gap, the MI will offer AI 101 for Manufacturing as a free online course this fall. The course will “introduce current and future workers to the basics of AI and contextualize this knowledge within manufacturing,” and those who complete it will earn an “AI Professional” certificate, Lee said.
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