Microsoft to offer free AI training to one million people in Poland

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Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.

Microsoft has announced an initiative to train one million people in Poland in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by the end of 2025. The programme will be delivered through a catalogue of free online courses.

The initiative builds on Microsoft’s investment in the “Polish Digital Valley”, which was announced in 2020 and has seen the opening of the software giant’s first cloud data centre in the region, as well as the training of over 430,000 IT specialists, business professionals, and students.

Training courses are available in Polish and other languages on Microsoft’s AI Skills Navigator learning hub, where an AI assistant will direct users to learning resources relevant to their skill and knowledge level.

The courses cater to both beginners and advanced users, including developers and business leaders seeking to integrate AI capabilities into their organisations. The platform – which offers more than 200 courses – includes an assessment tool to help learners evaluate their skills and identify areas for development.

Microsoft has pledged to regularly update the learning hub with new content to meet user needs and has partnered with universities, NGOs and tech communities to help broaden the programme’s reach.

“To benefit from AI, individuals need the skills to use it,” said Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft, quoted in a press release. “This new investment in AI skilling will help ensure that people in Poland can harness this transformative technology across the economy.”

The company pointed to the increasing need for AI skills in Poland. It highlighted a study by International Data Corporation (IDC), a tech market research firm, which shows that 77% of organisations in the country are using or plan to implement AI in the next 12 months.

Meanwhile, Microsoft and LinkedIn’s annual Work Trend Index reveals that 53% of Polish business leaders would not hire candidates without AI skills, the company said. Additionally, 55% would favour a less experienced candidate with AI knowledge over a more experienced person without such skills.

Currently, 61% of employees in Poland report using AI tools at work, compared to a global figure of 75%, the company said, citing the same study.

In July, Google and Spanish bank Santander announced a similar AI training programme, also available in Poland. It is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and teaches users the basics of AI as well as its personal and professional applications, including automating tasks and boosting efficiency.

The Microsoft announcement follows Poland’s increased efforts to facilitate AI adoption by the country’s businesses and state entities.

Earlier this month, the Polish government announced plans to invest 1 billion zloty (€232 million) in the development of AI, including developing a Polish large language model. It also pledged to establish an Artificial Intelligence Fund and council to oversee AI investments and activities in Poland.

Last year, the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, met with then prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki to discuss, among other matters, how Polish companies could participate in the development of AI. He said that Poland “would be an interesting place” for the company’s new office in Europe.

Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.

Main image credit: keso s / flickr.com (under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Alicja Ptak

Alicja Ptak is senior editor at Notes from Poland and a multimedia journalist. She previously worked for Reuters.