Salesforce plans to expand access to upskilling by offering its premium AI courses and AI certifications free for anyone through the end of 2025, according to a Sept. 18 announcement.
The courses are available on the company’s online learning platform, called Trailhead. Salesforce will also open new spaces at its San Francisco headquarters for in-person community AI training courses.
“The advent of AI and agents represents the biggest technological shift of our generation and will radically change how people work,” Brian Millham, president and COO at Salesforce, said in the announcement. “We need to ensure everyone is equipped with the skills they need to succeed in this new AI world.”
The Trailhead platform recently expanded to offer AI-specific skills training, including AI fundamentals, ethical AI use, and prompting.
In addition, Salesforce plans to upskill its 72,000 employees by introducing global quarterly AI learning days, which will give employees hands-on time with the latest AI innovations. For instance, employees will be able to use a suite of AI tools called Agentforce, which helps with tasks in service, sales, marketing and commerce.
Salesforce will also dedicate a floor in its San Francisco headquarters to create immersive learning experiences for employees around the world. About 40% of the 2.6 million AI and data badges earned on Trailhead were earned by Salesforce employees.
Widespread data skills gaps are leading to significant productivity loss, adding up to 25 working days per employee per year, according to a Multiverse report. Employees often lack fundamental skills, the report found, with about half of workers struggling with efficient data analysis, process automation and forecasting.
As the demand for AI-related skills increases, employers need to identify which skills their organizations actually need, according to an Info-Tech Research Group report. These plans should include not only AI skills but also critical thinking and problem-solving skills that can boost broader competencies, the firm said.
In fact, about 90% of HR leaders believe up to half their workforce will need to be reskilled in the next five years as AI developments roll out in workplaces, according to a PeopleScout and Spotted Zebra report. To do so effectively, leaders will need to keep employees in mind, communicate their plans for the future, address fears and ensure employees receive the training they need, experts told HR Dive.