University of Alberta to offer pioneering AI education to all undergraduate students

Innovative course will equip students across disciplines with crucial AI understanding

2023-09-12

(Press-News.org) The University of Alberta (U of A), a globally recognized leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, along with Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute), are breaking new ground with the launch of "Artificial Intelligence Everywhere," a new online introductory course accessible to all U of A undergraduates. The course is the cornerstone for an in-development AI certification, which will be one of the first in Canada.

The course equips students across all disciplines with essential AI literacy skills. With AI permeating sectors from health care to finance, this initiative bridges the AI skills gap, further positioning graduates for success in a competitive job market.

The "Artificial Intelligence Everywhere" course, available starting in January, offers a non-technical, foundational understanding of AI and where it can be applied. Led by Canada CIFAR AI Chairs and Amii Fellows Adam White and Alona Fyshe, participants will engage in real-world AI projects, simulations, and case studies.

“AI continues to reshape all aspects of society, so AI literacy is no longer an option but a necessity,” says Bill Flanagan, President and Vice-Chancellor of the U of A. “The launch of ‘AI Everywhere’ as part of our in-development AI certification, builds on our expertise in AI education, and reaffirms our commitment to teach the next generation of leaders the skills they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.”

“Amii is thrilled to leverage our world-leading expertise in AI for the benefit of even more students at the University of Alberta,” says Cam Linke, CEO of Amii. “By equipping both technical and non-technical undergraduates with AI literacy skills, we are laying a strong foundation for a talented and versatile workforce that can collaborate seamlessly with AI experts, driving transformative breakthroughs and solidifying Canada's position as a global leader in AI advancement.”

“Alberta’s tech talent is creating new and exciting technologies every day. Many of today’s most exciting innovations incorporate Artificial Intelligence, and the demand for AI-driven solutions is growing exponentially,” says Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation, Government of Alberta. “This new program offered by Amii and the University of Alberta will help bring Artificial Intelligence skills to a broader audience. I can’t wait to see what innovations they will come up with once equipped with this training.”

As a leader in advancing Canada's AI potential, Amii, one of the named centres of excellence in the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, is collaborating with the U of A in driving AI research excellence. The "AI Everywhere" initiative dovetails with the U of A and Amii's recent announcement of $30 million in funding for 20 new AI researchers at the U of A, propelling Canada's AI innovation.

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University of Alberta to offer pioneering AI education to all undergraduate students

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