Today, we announced a £23 million boost skills and diversity in AI jobs, creating 2,000 scholarships in AI and data science across England, as we level up opportunity across the nation.
The UK is already a world leader in AI, but we know we can do more to help people of all backgrounds to make the best of this growing sector and put the UK firmly on the way to becoming a global science superpower.
That is why we are inviting universities to bid for a share of £23 million of government funding, creating 2,000 scholarships for master’s programmes in AI conversation courses – enabling graduates to study AI irrespective of their background, ensuring a diverse talent pool in further AI developments.
This funding will mean more young people from underrepresented groups including women, black people and people with disabilities will be trained up to join the UK’s world-leading AI industry.
Science Minister George Freeman MP said:
The UK is one of the world’s most advanced AI economies, with AI already playing a key role in everything from climate science and medical diagnostics to factory robotics and smart cities.
It is therefore essential that we continue to equip our workforce with the skills they need in this important technology, while also making the industry accessible to talented people from all backgrounds.
That’s why today’s significant funding award is so important, which will see underrepresented groups trained up to build successful careers in AI, supporting the growth and diversity of AI in the UK.
For more information about this announcement, click here.